Blanket hanger

Abstract

The blanket hanger provides for the compact storage of a number of horse blankets, saddle blankets, and/or similar articles in a barn, stable, or similar facility. The blanket hanger has opposed upper and lower brackets with pivot holes therein, by which a series of blanket storage arms may be pivotally suspended. Each arm has at least an upper and a lower horizontal member, with the upper member curving downwardly to form a distal end component. A diagonal brace is provided for additional strength and support. An additional intermediate horizontal member may be provided for smaller saddle blanket storage, if desired. Horse blankets are suspended from the end of the arm, with the distal end component of the arm resting within the fold of the blanket to prevent swaying of the blanket as the arm is swung about its pivot. The different arm configurations may be interchangeably installed in the brackets.

1 . A blanket hanger, comprising: 
 an upper bracket;    a lower bracket, spaced apart from said upper bracket, each of said bracket having a plurality of arm pivot holes formed therein, each of the holes of said upper bracket corresponding directly to one of the holes in said lower bracket and defining an arm pivot hole pair;    a plurality of substantially vertically disposed blanket hanger arm pivot shafts removably disposed in at least some of the arm pivot hole pairs of said upper bracket and said lower bracket; and    a blanket hanger arm extending from each of said pivot shafts.    
   
   
       2 . The blanket hanger according to  claim 1 , wherein each said blanket hanger arm comprises: 
 a substantially horizontally disposed upper member having a pivot shaft end and a downwardly curved distal end opposite the pivot shaft end;    a substantially vertically disposed, distal end component depending from the distal end of said upper member, and integrally formed therewith, said distal end component further having a straight lowermost portion;    a substantially horizontally disposed lower member having at least a pivot shaft end and extending between said pivot shaft and said distal end component above the lowermost portion thereof; and    a diagonal brace extending upwardly from the pivot shaft end of said lower member to said upper member.    
   
   
       3 . The blanket hanger according to  claim 1 , wherein each said blanket hanger arm comprises: 
 a substantially horizontally disposed upper member having a pivot shaft end and a downwardly curved distal end opposite the pivot shaft end;    a substantially vertically disposed, distal end component depending from the distal end of said upper member and integrally formed therewith, said distal end component further having an upwardly and inwardly curved lower end portion extending therefrom;    a substantially horizontally disposed lower member having at least a pivot shaft end and extending between said pivot shaft and said distal end component above the lower end portion thereof;    a substantially horizontally disposed intermediate member extending between said pivot shaft and said distal end component; and    a diagonal brace extending upwardly from the pivot shaft end of said lower member to said intermediate member.    
   
   
       4 . The blanket hanger according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 each said bracket has a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first edge, and a second edge opposite the first edge; and    the plurality of arm pivot holes of each said bracket is staggered in a straight line from a first hole adjacent the first end and the first edge to a last hole adjacent the second end and the second edge.    
   
   
       5 . The blanket hanger according to  claim 1 , further including a bushing disposed within each of the arm pivot holes of each said bracket.  
   
   
       6 . The blanket hanger according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 each said bracket has at least a first end and a second end opposite the first end; and    a first frame member and a second frame member respectively connect the first end and second end of each said bracket, with said upper bracket, said lower bracket, said first frame member, and said second frame member defining a rectangular frame.    
   
   
       7 . The blanket hanger according to  claim 1 , wherein at least said upper bracket, said lower bracket, each of said blanket hanger arm pivot shafts, and each said arm are formed of materials selected from the group consisting of aluminum and steel stock.  
   
   
       8 . A blanket hanger, comprising: 
 an upper bracket;    a lower bracket, spaced apart from said upper bracket, each of said brackets having a plurality of arm pivot holes formed therein, each of the holes of said upper bracket corresponding directly to one of the holes in said lower bracket and defining an arm pivot hole pair;    a plurality of substantially vertically disposed blanket hanger arm pivot shafts disposed in at least some of the arm pivot hole pairs of said upper bracket and said lower bracket;    a blanket hanger arm extending from each of said pivot shafts, the arm having at least: 
 a substantially horizontally disposed upper member having a pivot shaft end and a downwardly curved distal end opposite the pivot shaft end;  
 a substantially vertically disposed, distal end component depending from the distal end of said upper member and integrally formed therewith, and having a lowermost portion;  
 a substantially horizontally disposed lower member having at least a pivot shaft end and extending between said pivot shaft and said distal end component above the lowermost portion thereof; and  
 a diagonal brace extending upwardly from the pivot shaft end of said lower member.  
   
   
   
       9 . The blanket hanger according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said blanket hanger arm pivot shafts are removably and interchangeably disposed in at least some of the arm pivot hole pairs of said upper bracket and said lower bracket;    the lowermost portion of said distal end component of each said blanket hanger arm is straight; and    said diagonal brace extends between the pivot shaft end of said lower member and said upper member.    
   
   
       10 . The blanket hanger according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said blanket hanger arm pivot shafts are removably and interchangeably disposed in at least some of the arm pivot hole pairs of said upper bracket and said lower bracket;    the lowermost portion of said distal end component of each said blanket hanger arm has an upwardly and inwardly curved lower end portion extending therefrom;    a substantially horizontally disposed intermediate member extends between said pivot shaft and said distal end component; and    said diagonal brace extends between the pivot shaft end of said lower member and said intermediate member.    
   
   
       11 . The blanket hanger according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 each said bracket has a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first edge, and a second edge opposite the first edge; and    the plurality of arm pivot holes of each said bracket is staggered in a straight line from a first hole adjacent the first end and the first edge to a last hole adjacent the second end and the second edge.    
   
   
       12 . The blanket hanger according to  claim 8 , further including a bushing disposed within each of the arm pivot holes of each said bracket.  
   
   
       13 . The blanket hanger according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 each said bracket has at least a first end and a second end opposite the first end; and    a first frame member and a second frame member respectively connect the first end and second end of each said bracket, with said upper bracket, said lower bracket, said first frame member, and said second frame member defining a rectangular frame.    
   
   
       14 . The blanket hanger according to  claim 8 , wherein at least said upper bracket, said lower bracket, each of said blanket hanger arm pivot shafts, and each said arm are formed of materials selected from the group consisting of aluminum and steel stock.  
   
   
       15 . A blanket hanger, comprising: 
 an upper bracket;    a lower bracket, spaced apart from said upper bracket, each of said brackets having a plurality of arm pivot holes formed therein, each of the holes of said upper bracket corresponding directly to one of the holes in said lower bracket and defining an arm pivot hole pair, each said bracket having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first edge, and a second edge opposite the first edge, the plurality of arm pivot holes of each said bracket being staggered in a straight line from a first hole adjacent the first end and the first edge to a last hole adjacent the second end and the second edge;    a plurality of substantially vertically disposed blanket hanger arm pivot shafts disposed in at least some of the arm pivot hole pairs of said upper bracket and said lower bracket; and    a blanket hanger arm extending from each of said pivot shafts.    
   
   
       16 . The blanket hanger according to  claim 15 , wherein each said blanket hanger arm comprises: 
 a substantially horizontally disposed upper member having a pivot shaft end and a downwardly curved distal end opposite the pivot shaft end;    a substantially vertically disposed, distal end component depending from the distal end of said upper member, and integrally formed therewith, said distal end component further having a straight lowermost portion;    a substantially horizontally disposed lower member having at least a pivot shaft end and extending between said pivot shaft and said distal end component above the lowermost portion thereof;    a diagonal brace extending upwardly from the pivot shaft end of said lower member to said upper member; and    said blanket hanger arm pivot shafts are removably and interchangeably disposed in at least some of the arm pivot hole pairs of said upper bracket and said lower bracket.    
   
   
       17 . The blanket hanger according to  claim 15 , wherein each said blanket hanger arm comprises: 
 a substantially horizontally disposed upper member having a pivot shaft end and a downwardly curved distal end opposite the pivot shaft end;    a substantially vertically disposed, distal end component depending from the distal end of said upper member and integrally formed therewith, said distal end component further having an upwardly and inwardly curved lower end portion extending therefrom;    a substantially horizontally disposed lower member having at least a pivot shaft end and extending between said pivot shaft and said distal end component above the lower end portion thereof;    a substantially horizontally disposed intermediate member extending between said pivot shaft and said distal end component;    a diagonal brace extending upwardly from the pivot shaft end of said lower member to said intermediate member; and    said blanket hanger arm pivot shafts are removably and interchangeably disposed in at least some of the arm pivot hole pairs of said upper bracket and said lower bracket.    
   
   
       18 . The blanket hanger according to  claim 15 , further including a bushing disposed within each of the arm pivot holes of each said bracket.  
   
   
       19 . The blanket hanger according to  claim 15 , wherein: 
 each said bracket has at least a first end and a second end opposite the first end; and    a first frame member and a second frame member respectively connect the first end and second end of each said bracket, with said upper bracket, said lower bracket, said first frame member, and said second frame member defining a rectangular frame.    
   
   
       20 . The blanket hanger according to  claim 15 , wherein at least said upper bracket, said lower bracket, each of said blanket hanger arm pivot shafts, and each said arm are formed of materials selected from the group consisting of aluminum and steel stock.