Adjustable clothing hanger

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6637630
  • Patent Number
    6,637,630
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, March 14, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, October 28, 2003
    20 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Calvert; John J.
    • Smith; James
    Agents
    • Anderson & Morishita
    • Morishita; Robert Ryan
Abstract
An adjustable clothing hanger includes extension arms extending from the shoulders of a clothing hanger. The extension arms engage locks that secure the extension arms in a desired position. In one embodiment, the extension arms include receivers that mount to the ends of the shoulders. The extension arms are locked by an adjuster strip connected that engages the hook of the clothing hanger. In an alternate embodiment, the extension arms are supported and guided by a mount that is attached to the clothing hanger. An optional embodiment includes ridges engaging a detent to lock the extension arms in place.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to clothing hangers. Specifically, the present invention is a clothing hanger with adjustable length shoulders to accommodate clothing of varying width.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Conventional clothing hangers known in the prior art include a hook positioned between two shoulders. Some clothing hangers further include a cross-piece connecting the shoulders to connect and brace the shoulders.




Many variations on the conventional clothing hanger have been developed. For example, it is known to include clips on the cross-piece from which a user may hang trousers. Similarly, it is known to mount clips or the like along the shoulders or across the cross-piece from which neckties may be hanged.




A particular problem with conventional clothing hangers is that the distance between the shoulders and the length of the shoulders are fixed. Thus, conventional clothing hangers must be formed in a variety of sizes to accommodate different size clothing. That is, the length of the shoulders varies to accommodate clothing of different width.




In response to this problem, a variety of adjustable hangers have been invented. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,391,395 shows a clothes hanger having extensions that telescope from hollow hanger arms. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,572 discloses a collapsible clothing hanger in which lower arm segments may be collapsed into hollow upper arm segments to allow the hanger to be folded into a compact shape. Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,358, shows a clothes hanger having extensions that depend from the underside of the shoulders of a clothes hanger.




However, a number of problems are presented by these prior art designs. First, the use of hollow hanger arms to accommodate telescoping extensions can weaken the hanger and lead to bending or breakage under normal loads.




Second, these adjustable hangers cannot be retrofitted onto existing clothing hangers. Thus, totally new hangers must be manufactured and purchased by users to take advantage of the adjustable width. Consequently, these new hangers are often costly to make and use.




Therefore, it can be seen that there is a need in the art for a clothing hanger device that can be adjusted to fit a variety of sizes of clothing to obviate the need to have a variety of single-size hangers without substantially weakening the hanger while providing the flexibility to be retrofitted to existing clothing hangers.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention is specifically adapted for a conventional clothing hanger having right and left shoulders with a hook centered therebetween. The present invention may be retrofitted onto an existing clothing hanger or, in an alternate optional embodiment, integrated into a clothing hanger.




Right and left extension arms are mounted to the hanger in alignment with the right and left shoulders, respectively. The right and left extension arms may be mounted to the surfaces of the right and left shoulders of the hanger, or, in an alternate embodiment, may be secured to a mount resting on the shoulders of the hanger. The extension arms are guided along the shoulders by the mount or by guides on the shoulders. The extension arms are secured in position by locks.




In an embodiment including a mount, the mount includes at least one panel substantially parallel to the plane formed by the hanger shoulders. The panel supports the right and left extension arms and locks to hold the extension arms at a desired position. In an optional embodiment, the mount additionally includes retainers such as holes or clips for clothing articles such as scarves, neckties, and the like.




The locks may take many forms. For example, the locks may include a series of notches along an adjuster strip that secure to the hook of the hanger. In another optional embodiment, the locks include a series of ridges mating with a detent. In any case, the locks serve to secure the right and left extension arms at a desired position with respect to the hanger as they are moved along the right and left shoulders.




It is an object of the invention to provide a clothing hanger device that can be adjusted to fit a variety of sizes of clothing without substantially weakening the hanger while providing the flexibility to be retrofitted to existing clothing hangers.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a front view of a clothing hanger according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a front view of a clothing hanger according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 3

is a front view of a clothing hanger according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 4

is a front view of a clothing hanger according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 5

is a front view of a clothing hanger according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.











DESCRIPTION




Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are referred to by like numerals throughout. Referring first to

FIG. 1

, the present invention is particularly adapted for a clothing hanger


10


of conventional design. Such a clothing hanger


10


includes a right shoulder


12


, a left shoulder


14


, and a hook


16


. In a further embodiment, the clothing hanger


10


may include a cross-piece


18


connecting the ends of the right shoulder


12


to the left shoulder


14


. As may be appreciated, clothing hangers


10


are made of a variety of materials including wood, polymers, metal wire, and the like.




The present invention includes right and left extension arms


20


,


22


that move relative to the clothing hanger


10


to allow the shoulders


12


,


14


of the hanger


10


to be effectively increased or decreased in length. The right extension arm


20


and left extension arm


22


extend longitudinally from the right shoulder


12


and left shoulder


14


, respectively. Optionally, the extension arms


20


,


22


are dependent on, and in alignment with, the shoulders


12


,


14


.




It is contemplated that the extension arms


20


,


22


may be guided and supported by the hanger


10


in several different ways. In one optional embodiment, shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, each extension arm


20


,


22


is guided by a receiver


24


that receives the end of the shoulder


12


,


14


. For example, an extension arm


20


,


22


adapted for use with a hanger


10


with no cross-piece, as shown in

FIG. 1

may include a tubular receiver


24


fitting over the end of the shoulder


12


,


14


. Similarly, an extension arm


20


,


22


adapted for use with a hanger


10


including a cross-piece


18


, as shown in

FIG. 2

, may include a triangular receiver


24


fitting over the end of the shoulder


12


,


14


and cross-piece


18


. Optionally, the embodiment of

FIG. 2

may include a strut


38


to support the extension arm


20


,


22


when extended. In the embodiments of

FIGS. 1 and 2

, the receiver


24


is of a length to permit the extension arms


20


,


22


to be extended from the shoulders


12


,


14


to a desired distance while still engaging the shoulders


12


,


14


to provide guidance and support to the extension arms


20


,


22


.




In an alternate optional embodiment, shown in

FIGS. 3 and 4

, a mount


26


may be provided that fits over the shoulders


12


,


14


of a hanger


10


, The mount


26


includes at least one panel


28


in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the shoulders


12


,


14


. Optionally, the mount


26


could include another panel (not shown) to enclose the hanger


10


or, as shown in

FIGS. 3 and 4

, it may be open on one side. It is contemplated that the size and shape of the mount


10


could be altered to accommodate hangers


10


of different sizes and shapes. In an optional embodiment, the panel


28


of the mount


26


may include retainers such as clips or holes


30


to receive articles of clothing such as neckties, scarves, belts, or the like.




The mount


26


provides guidance and support to the extension arms


20


,


22


. In the optional embodiment of

FIG. 3

, the guidance and support is provided by guides


32


secured to the panel


28


upon which the extension arms


20


,


22


may rest. The mount


26


further includes fasteners


34


to hold the mount


26


to the hanger


10


. The fasteners


34


could take many optional forms. For example, the fasteners


34


may be as simple as curved hooks that rest over the shoulders


12


,


14


or may further include a flap that folds over the shoulders


12


,


14


and is secured by means such as a snap


36


, rivet, clip, clasp, or the like.




Referring generally to

FIGS. 1-3

, the extension arms


20


,


22


further include locks to secure the extension arms


20


,


22


in a desired position. As shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, the locks may be one or more notches


40


in an adjuster strip


42


connected to each extension arm


20


,


22


. In an optional embodiment, the adjuster strip


42


is integral with the extension arm


20


,


22


. According to the present invention, the notches


40


may engage the hook


16


, as shown, or may engage a protuberance or projection (not shown) on the hanger


10


. In the embodiment of

FIG. 3

, the extension arms


20


,


22


are adjusted by disengaging the notch


40


from the hook


16


, protuberance, or projection and slidably adjusting the extension arm


20


,


22


to the desired position. The extension arm


20


,


22


is then secured by engaging a notch


40


on the adjuster strip


42


to the hook


16


, protuberance, or projection.




An alternate optional embodiment is illustrated in FIG.


3


. In the embodiment of

FIG. 3

, the lock takes the form of a series of ridges


44


that engage a detent


46


. Optionally, the ridges


44


are of a barbed or sawtooth pattern known in the art. While the ridges


44


shown in

FIG. 3

are on the extension arm


20


,


22


and the detent


46


is secured to the mount


26


, the present invention contemplates that the arrangement could be reversed with the ridges


44


on the mount


26


on the shoulders


12


,


14


and the detent


46


on the extension arms


20


,


22


. To position the extension arms


20


,


22


in such an embodiment, the ridges


44


are first disengaged from the detent


46


. Optionally a release (not shown) may be provided to aid in the disengagement. The extension arms


20


,


22


are slidably adjusted to the desired positions and the detent


46


engages the ridges


44


to hold the extension arms


20


,


22


in place.




Similarly, in the embodiment of

FIG. 4

, the lock takes the form of one or more studs


48


on the extension arms


20


,


22


that mate with a series of openings


50


in the upper margin of the mount


26


. As the studs


48


on the extension arms


20


,


22


are relocated to different openings


50


, the extension arms


20


,


22


move along the shoulders


12


,


14


of the hanger


10


.




In use, the present device could be mounted to a clothing hanger


10


of new construction or retrofitted onto an existing clothing hanger


10


. In the embodiment of

FIGS. 1 and 2

, the extension arms


20


,


22


are fixed to a clothing hanger


10


by merely placing the receiver


24


over the end of the shoulders


12


,


14


of the hanger


10


and securing the notch


40


on the adjuster strip


42


to the hook


16


, protuberance, or projection. In the embodiment of

FIG. 3

, the extension arms


20


,


22


are fixed to a clothing hanger


10


by fastening the mount


26


to the clothing hanger


10


using fasteners


34


. That is, in

FIG. 3

, the mount


26


is fixed to a clothing hanger


10


by securing the fasteners


34


to the shoulders


12


,


14


of the clothing hanger


10


. The extensions arms


20


,


22


are then adjusted to the desired width. Similarly, in the embodiment of

FIG. 4

, the mount


26


is fixed to the clothing hanger


10


by securing fasteners


34


to the edge of the clothing hanger


10


. The extension arms


20


,


22


may then be adjusted as desired.




Referring to

FIG. 5

, an alternate embodiment is contemplated in which clothing hooks


52


are provided on the hanger


10


to receive clothing that may is more appropriately hanged from clothing hooks


52


rather than the shoulders


12


,


14


and extension arms


20


,


22


. For example, straps from dresses or the like could be hanged from the clothing hooks


52


. As can be appreciated, the clothing hooks


52


could extend from the extension arms


20


,


22


or the mount


26


, however, in the embodiment of

FIG. 5

, the clothing hooks


52


are disposed on the mount


26


inside holes


56


that align with holes


54


on the extension arms


20


,


22


. In an alternate embodiment, it is contemplated that the clothing hooks


52


may be disposed on the extension arms


20


,


22


such that the distance between the clothing hooks


52


is adjustable.




While certain embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described it is to be understood that the present invention is subject to many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims presented herein.



Claims
  • 1. A clothing hanger of adjustable size, comprising:right and left shoulders; a hook disposed between said shoulders; right and left extension arms slidably movable with respect to the hanger in alignment with said right and left shoulders, respectively; guides engaging said right and left extension arms to guide the sliding of said right and left extension arms parallel to said right and left shoulders, respectively; locks mating with said right and left extension arms having disengaged and engaged positions, said locks permitting said right and left extension arms to slide parallel to said right and left shoulders to a desired length when disengaged and securing said right and left extension arms from sliding from a desired length when engaged; and a mount secured over the right and left shoulders of said hanger with at least one panel substantially parallel to the plane formed by the right and left hanger shoulders, said panel supporting the right and left extension arms, guides, and locks.
  • 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said locks comprise a releasable detent on said mount engaged to ridges along said right and left extension arms.
  • 3. The device of claim 1 wherein said mount further comprises a retainer on said panel for holding articles of clothing.
  • 4. A clothing hanger of adjustable size, comprising:right and left shoulders; a hook disposed between said shoulders; right and left extension arms slidably mounted to the hanger in alignment with said right and left shoulders, respectively; guides disposed on said right and left shoulders to guide the sliding of said right and left extension arms parallel to said right and left shoulders, respectively, said guides comprising receivers on said right and left extension arms receiving the ends of said right and left shoulders, respectively, said receivers sized and shaped for sliding engagement along said right and left shoulders; locks on said right and left extension arms having disengaged and engaged positions, said locks permitting said right and left extension arms to slide parallel to said right and left shoulders to a desired length when disengaged and securing said right and left extension arms from sliding from a desired length when engaged; and an adjuster strip extending from said right and left extension arms to said hook, such that said locks comprise notches along said adjuster strip that are selectively engaged to said hook to secure said right and left extension arms from sliding along said right and left shoulders.
RELATED APPLICATION DATA

The present application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/328,690 entitled “Adjustable Clothing Hanger” filed by Applicant herein on Oct. 10, 2001.

US Referenced Citations (2)
Number Name Date Kind
5145098 Tung Sep 1992 A
6062445 Nakamoto May 2000 A
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60/328690 Oct 2001 US