Devices for Hanging Items from Horizontally-Oriented Structures, and Associated Methods

Abstract

A hanger device structurally configured to couple at an edge of a horizontal support is disclosed and described, the hanger device including a hanger support including a horizontal top support having a planar undersurface structurally configured to rest on an upper surface of the horizontal support when in use and an edge extension extending downwardly from the top support and configured to abut an edge of the horizontal support. The hanger device can further include a lower hanger coupled to and extending downwardly from the edge extension, a lower hook coupled to the lower hanger and oriented to suspend a decorative item therefrom, and an engagement lock to slidably coupled to the lower hanger and configured to contact a bottom surface of the horizontal support opposite the horizontal top support to secure the hanger device to the horizontal support.

What is claimed, is: 
     
         1 . A hanger device structurally configured to couple at an edge of a horizontal support, comprising:
 a hanger support including:
 a horizontal top support having a planar undersurface structurally configured to rest on an upper surface of the horizontal support when in use; and 
 an edge extension extending downwardly from the top support and configured to abut an edge of the horizontal support; 
   a lower hanger coupled to and extending downwardly from the edge extension;   a lower hook coupled to the lower hanger and oriented to suspend a decorative item therefrom;   an engagement lock slidably coupled to the lower hanger and configured to contact a bottom surface of the horizontal support opposite the horizontal top support to secure the hanger device to the horizontal support.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement lock is further configured to contact the bottom surface of the horizontal support opposite a distal portion the horizontal top support. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a first frictional layer coupled to the planar undersurface to increase a gripping force of the hanger device. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , further comprising a second frictional layer coupled to the engagement lock and positioned to contact the bottom surface of the horizontal support to increase the gripping force of the hanger device. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the edge extension is oriented perpendicular to the planar undersurface of the horizontal top support. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the lower hook is facing toward the horizontal support. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the lower hook is facing away from the horizontal support. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the lower hook is oriented parallel to a plane of the edge of the horizontal support 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the lower hook is multiple lower hooks 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising a lateral support extending laterally from the lower hanger to which the multiple lower hooks are coupled. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper hook coupled to the edge extension. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement lock further comprises a slide lock configured to lock the engagement lock in a fixed position relative to the horizontal top support. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a resilient coupling between the lower hanger and the hanger support, and located above the engagement lock, wherein the resilient coupling is prestressed to rotate the hanger support toward the engagement lock. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the resilient coupling is a portion of the lower hanger bent to rotate the hanger support toward the engagement lock. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the resilient coupling is a resilient material coupled to the hanger support and to the lower hanger. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a portion of the lower hanger below the engagement lock that is threaded along its length; and   a nut engaged in the threaded portion configured to apply an upward force against the engagement lock as the nut is screwed upward.