Item Securing Hook Assembly

Abstract

Units or hook assemblies arranged and configured to adequately capture and hold personal items which have some type of handle, rope, strap or the like. Preferred embodiments include a mounting plate for attachment to a restroom stall wall, door or the like. The mounting plate includes an upper end and a lower end. Preferred embodiments further include a first and second hook elements extending outwardly from the mounting plate. Preferred embodiments are arranged and configured to hinder theft of personal items stored on the hook from an over the stall door or wall attempt.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article support unit for attachment to a vertical surface, the unit comprising:
 a mounting plate having an upper end and a lower end;   a lower hook element having a distal end; the lower hook element connected to and extending outwardly from a first location on the mounting plate in a generally orthogonal direction; and   an upper hook element including a first member connected to the mounting plate at a second location, with the second location closer to the upper end of the mounting plate than the first location, and with the first member extending generally perpendicular from the mounting plate, the upper hook element further including a second member extending from the first member, the second member including a crook having a distal end; wherein, when the unit is operatively secured to the vertical surface, the first member is spaced from and extends above the lower hook element, the second member extends downwardly from the first member so that it is spaced from and located in front of the lower hook element;   wherein a first distance between the distal end of the crook of the upper hook element and the mounting plate is less than a second distance between the distal end of the lower hook element and the mounting plate;   wherein the upper hook element and the lower hook element are coplanar.   
     
     
         2 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the lower hook element extends from a location adjacent the lower end of the mounting plate and the upper hook element extends from a location adjacent the upper end of the mounting plate. 
     
     
         3 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the second member of the upper hook element having a generally concave, rearwardly facing curvature relative to the mounting plate. 
     
     
         4 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the upper hook element includes a reinforcing web, and the first member and the second member are interconnected by the reinforcing web. 
     
     
         5 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein an angle formed by the first member and the second member of the upper hook element is approximately 90 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the upper hook element and the lower hook element are attached to the mounting plate at a fixed, nonadjustable distance from one another. 
     
     
         7 . An article support unit for attachment to a vertical surface, the unit comprising:
 a substantially planar mounting plate having a first surface and a second surface, with the second surface parallel with the first surface, an upper end and a lower end;   a lower hook element having a distal end; the lower hook element connected to and extending outwardly from the first surface of the mounting plate in a generally orthogonal direction; and   an upper hook element including a first member connected to and extending generally outwardly from the first surface of the mounting plate, the upper hook element further including a second member extending from the first member, the second member including a crook with a distal end; wherein, when the unit is operatively secured to the vertical surface so that the upper end is above the lower end, the first member extends over the lower hook element, the second member extends downwardly in front of the lower hook element, and the crook extends inwardly towards the mounting plate such that the distal end of the crook is located above the distal end of the lower hook element;   wherein a first distance between the distal end of the crook of the upper hook element and the mounting plate is less than a second distance between the distal end of the lower hook element and the mounting plate;   wherein the upper hook element and the lower hook element are attached to the mounting plate at a fixed, nonadjustable distance from one another.   
     
     
         8 . The unit of  claim 7 , wherein the upper hook element and the lower hook element are coplanar. 
     
     
         9 . The unit of  claim 7 , wherein the lower hook element extends from a location adjacent the lower end of the mounting plate and the upper hook element extends from a location adjacent the upper end of the mounting plate. 
     
     
         10 . The unit of  claim 7 , wherein the second member of the upper hook element having a generally concave, rearwardly facing curvature relative to the mounting plate. 
     
     
         11 . The unit of  claim 7 , wherein the upper hook element includes a reinforcing web, and the first member and the second member are interconnected by the reinforcing web. 
     
     
         12 . The unit of  claim 7 , wherein the upper hook element and the lower hook element are attached to the mounting plate at a fixed, nonadjustable distance from one another. 
     
     
         13 . An article support unit for attachment to a vertical surface, the unit comprising:
 a mounting plate having an upper end and a lower end;   a lower hook element having a distal end; the lower hook element connected to and extending outwardly from a first location on the mounting plate in a generally orthogonal direction; and   an upper hook element at least partially extending generally perpendicular from the mounting plate, the upper hook element further including a crook having a distal end; wherein, when the unit is operatively secured to the vertical surface, the upper hook element is spaced from and extends above the lower hook element, the upper hook element at least partially extends downwardly and in front of the lower hook element;   wherein the crook is located above the lower hook element;   wherein a first distance between the distal end of the crook of the upper hook element and the mounting plate is less than a second distance between the distal end of the lower hook element and the mounting plate;   wherein the upper hook element and the lower hook element are coplanar.   
     
     
         14 . The unit of  claim 13 , wherein the lower hook element extends from a location adjacent the lower end of the mounting plate and the upper hook element extends from a location adjacent the upper end of the mounting plate. 
     
     
         15 . The unit of  claim 13 , wherein the upper hook element and the lower hook element are attached to the mounting plate at a fixed, nonadjustable distance from one another.