Spring-biased extendable and retractable hanger with a roller, support lines and return line configured to facilitate retraction of the fully extended hanger

Abstract

A spring-biased extendable and retractable hanger assembly with a roller, support lines and a return line configured to facilitate retraction of the fully extended hanger bar includes a spring-biased window shade style roller assembly. The roller assembly features a pair of mounting pintles that extend from opposed ends of the roller. As the support lines are extended, the roller rotates in an extension direction and the roller's spring is wound, so that a biasing force is generated which will restore the assembly to a desired position upon disengagement, such as by quickly rotating the roller in the extension direction and releasing. The support lines are configured to support the hanger bar at a desired height when the lines are fully extended. The return line is longer than the support lines by an additional length sufficient to wrap around the roller one or more times when the support lines are in their fully extended position. The bottom end of the return line is a free end.

1 . A spring-biased extendable and retractable hanger assembly comprising
 a roller, said roller being rotatably mounted;   a plurality of support lines, each support line having a top end and a bottom end;   a return line, the return line having a top end and a bottom end; and   a hanger bar; wherein   the top end of each support line is attached to said roller and the bottom end of each support line is attached to said hanger bar; and   said return line is configured to facilitate retraction of the fully extended hanger bar.   
   
   
       2 . A spring-biased extendable and retractable hanger assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein when the hanger bar is fully retracted, the support lines are fully wound around the roller and when the support lines are fully extended, objects may be hung on the hanger bar and the entire load is carried by the support lines. 
   
   
       3 . A spring-biased extendable and retractable hanger assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom end of the return line is a free end and the return line is longer than the support lines by a determined additional length. 
   
   
       4 . A spring-biased extendable and retractable hanger assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom end of the return line is a free end and the return line is longer than the support lines by a determined additional length, and the free end includes a hand gripping structure suitable for gripping. 
   
   
       5 . A spring-biased extendable and retractable hanger assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom end of the return line is a free end and the return line is longer than the support lines by a determined additional length which is enough additional length to wrap the return line around the roller at least one more time when the support lines are in their fully extended position. 
   
   
       6 . A spring-biased extendable and retractable hanger assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom end of the return line is a free end and the return line is longer than the support lines by a determined additional length which is enough additional length to wrap the return line around the roller at least one more time when the support lines are in their fully extended position, and the additional length is configured to serves as a pull cord to facilitate reaching and pulling down the hanger bar. 
   
   
       7 . A spring-biased extendable and retractable hanger assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom end of the return line is a free end and the return line is longer than the support lines by a determined additional length which is approximately n×πd+l, where d is a diameter of the roller and n is the number of times the additional length of the return line wraps around the roller and l is a length of the return line extended below the hanger bar. 
   
   
       8 . A spring-biased extendable and retractable hanger assembly according to  claim 1 , said roller including
 a pair of mounting pintles that extend from opposed ends of the roller;   one of the pintles having an other than round cross-section and extending from a shaft associated with a winding spring in the roller; and   the other pintle having a rounded cross-section and being freely rotatable when mounted.   
   
   
       9 . A spring-biased extendable and retractable hanger assembly according to  claim 1 , said roller including means for controlling motion of the roller, said means winding the winding spring as the roller rotates in an extension direction and the support lines are extended so that a biasing force is generated which will restore the roller to a retracted position upon disengagement of the means for controlling motion of the roller. 
   
   
       10 . A spring-biased extendable and retractable hanger assembly according to  claim 1 , said means for controlling motion of the roller being configured for disengagement by quickly rotating the roller in the extension direction and then releasing the roller. 
   
   
       11 . A spring-biased extendable and retractable hanger assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting enclosure configured to receive and operably support the roller, said enclosure including
 a compartment configured for receiving the roller and an opening configured for allowing extension of the support lines, said compartment including a first mounting support configured to receive the flattened pintle and restrain the flattened pintle against rotation and a second mounting support configured to receive the rounded pintle and allow the rounded pintle to rotate; and   mounting tabs configured to securely attach the enclosure to a supporting object.   
   
   
       12 . A spring-biased extendable and retractable hanger assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the support lines are configured to support the hanger bar at a determined height when the lines are fully extended. 
   
   
       13 . A spring-biased extendable and retractable hanger assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each support lines is comprised of a ribbon. 
   
   
       14 . A spring-biased extendable and retractable hanger assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a support line guide associated with each support line and configured to guide the support lines during rewinding and extension. 
   
   
       15 . A spring-biased extendable and retractable hanger assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the support lines are pre-sized to support the hanger bar at a determined height when the lines are fully extended. 
   
   
       16 . A spring-biased extendable and retractable hanger assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the support lines are configured for adjusting to a size to support the hanger bar at a determined height when the lines are fully extended. 
   
   
       17 . A spring-biased extendable and retractable hanger assembly according to  claim 1 , including mounting brackets configured for wall mounting the roller. 
   
   
       18 . A spring-biased extendable and retractable hanger assembly according to  claim 1 , including mounting brackets configured for ceiling mounting the roller. 
   
   
       19 . A spring-biased extendable and retractable hanger assembly according to  claim 1 , including mounting brackets configured for frame mounting the roller. 
   
   
       20 . A spring-biased extendable and retractable hanger assembly comprising
 a roller, said roller being rotatably mounted, said roller including
 a pair of mounting pintles that extend from opposed ends of the roller; 
 one of the pintles having an other than round cross-section and extending from a shaft associated with a winding spring in the roller; and 
 the other pintle having a rounded cross-section and being freely rotatable when mounted; and 
 means for controlling motion of the roller, said means for controlling motion winding the winding spring as the roller rotates in an extension direction and the support lines are extended so that a biasing force is generated which will restore the roller to a retracted position upon disengagement of the means for controlling motion of the roller; and 
   a plurality of support lines, each support line having a top end and a bottom end;   a return line, the return line having a top end and a bottom end; and   a hanger bar; wherein   the top end of each support line is attached to said roller and the bottom end of each support line is attached to said hanger bar; and   said return line is configured to facilitate retraction of the fully extended hanger bar;   wherein when the hanger bar is fully retracted, the support lines are fully wound around the roller and when the support lines are fully extended, objects may be hung on the hanger bar and the entire load is carried by the support lines; and   wherein the bottom end of the return line is a free end and the return line is longer than the support lines by a determined additional length which is enough additional length to wrap the return line around the roller at least one more time when the support lines are in their fully extended position.