Garland Hanger

Abstract

A hanger for hanging of garlands and the like around a doorway is described. The hanger can be removably placed within a doorway, where it is secured by pressure and friction, thereby avoiding any damage to the door or door frame. The hanger includes outward extensions that extend outward of the door frame to permit hanging of garlands and the like on either side of the doorway. The hanger may also include one or more central extensions for supporting the garlands or the like centrally above the doorway so that the garland or the like does not hang downward too much, thus keeping the doorway clear. The hanger may use a large number of materials and decorative forms, whereby the garland hanger can also be a part of the decoration around the doorway. The hanger may fit different widths of door frames, including a wide range of door frame widths.

1 . A garland hanger to be used for hanging garlands and other similar decorations around a doorway without damaging or marring a door of the doorway, a surrounding doorway frame, jambs of the doorway, or a portion of a building around the doorway, the garland hanger comprising:
 a central support member;   a pair of lateral extension members connected to the central support member and configured to extend beyond the jambs of the doorway; and   frictional members connected to the central support members in such a way as to permit an outwardly-directed force to be applied to the jambs by the frictional members, whereby a frictional surface of the frictional members holds the garland hanger in the doorway without damaging the door or the jambs.   
     
     
         2 . A garland hanger as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a central decorative support attached to the central support member and configured to centrally support the garland or other similar decorations above the doorway. 
     
     
         3 . A garland hanger as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a central decorative support integrally formed with the central support member and configured to centrally support the garland or other similar decorations above the doorway. 
     
     
         4 . A garland hanger as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the frictional members comprise a compressible element that can be compressed to fit the garland hanger in the doorway. 
     
     
         5 . A garland hanger as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the frictional members comprise an adjustment mechanism whereby the garland hanger can be adjusted to fit different widths of doorways. 
     
     
         6 . A garland hanger as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a threaded member whereby turning of the threaded member adjusts the spacing between the outer surfaces of the frictional members. 
     
     
         7 . A garland hanger as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a plurality of longitudinal locations on the central support member to which one of the frictional members may be attached to fit differently sized doorways. 
     
     
         8 . A garland hanger as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of longitudinal locations are provided on both ends of the central support member. 
     
     
         9 . A garland hanger as recited in  claim 8 , wherein each frictional member comprises a bracket that is attached to the longitudinal location and wherein the bracket comprises a pair of thumb screws having frictional pads attached thereto. 
     
     
         10 . A garland hanger as recited in  claim 7 , wherein each frictional member comprises a bracket that is attached to the longitudinal location and wherein the bracket comprises a pair of thumb screws having frictional pads attached thereto. 
     
     
         11 . A garland hanger as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the central support member and the lateral extension members are manufactured from a decorative material. 
     
     
         12 . A garland hanger as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the decorative material is a material selected from the group consisting of:
 rod iron;   wrought iron;   tubular aluminum;   tubular steel;   tubular plastic; and   solid plastic.   
     
     
         13 . A garland hanger as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the lateral extension members are configured to prevent unwanted downward rotation of the garland hanger. 
     
     
         14 . A garland hanger to be used for hanging garlands and other similar decorations around a doorway without damaging or marring a door of the doorway, a surrounding doorway frame, jambs of the doorway, or a portion of a building around the doorway, the garland hanger comprising:
 a central support member;   a pair of lateral extension members connected to the central support member and configured to extend beyond the jambs of the doorway to support a garland or other decoration along sides of the doorway;   a central decorative support member located along the central support member so as to be supportive of the garland or other similar decorations above the doorway when the garland hanger is located within the doorway; and   frictional members connected to the central support members in such a way as to permit an outwardly-directed force to be applied to the jambs by the frictional members, whereby a frictional surface of the frictional members holds the garland hanger in the doorway without damaging the door or the jambs.   
     
     
         15 . A garland hanger as recited in  claim 14 , wherein a portion of the central support member is substantially co-linear with a doorway-contacting portion of the frictional members. 
     
     
         16 . A garland hanger as recited in  claim 14 , wherein no portion of the central support member is substantially co-linear with a doorway-contacting portion of the frictional members. 
     
     
         17 . A garland hanger as recited in  claim 14 , wherein each frictional member comprises a bracket that is attached to the central support member at one of a plurality of longitudinal locations to provide large-scale adjustability to the garland hanger and wherein the bracket comprises a pair of adjustable elements to provide small-scale adjustability to the garland hanger, and wherein the adjustable elements have frictional pads attached thereto. 
     
     
         18 . A garland hanger to be used for hanging garlands and other similar decorations around a doorway without damaging or marring a door of the doorway, a surrounding doorway frame, jambs of the doorway, or a portion of a building around the doorway, the garland hanger comprising:
 a central support member;   a pair of lateral extension members connected to the central support member and configured to extend beyond the jambs of the doorway;   a central decorative support member located along the central support member so as to be supportive of the garland or other similar decorations above the doorway when the garland hanger is located within the doorway; and   a pair of brackets attached to the central support member at one of a plurality of longitudinal locations to provide large-scale adjustability to the garland hanger, wherein each bracket comprises a pair of adjustable elements to provide small-scale adjustability to the garland hanger, and wherein the adjustable elements have frictional pads attached thereto.   
     
     
         19 . A garland hanger as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the central support member and the lateral extension members are manufactured from a decorative material. 
     
     
         20 . A garland hanger as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the decorative material is a material selected from the group consisting of:
 a solid decorative material; and   a hollow decorative material.