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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to clothes hangers, and more particularly, to clothes hangers having an adjustable support system and standardized size calibration.
2. Description of the Related Art
Clothing retailers have long suffered from the inconvenience associated with clamp-like hangers. Clamp-like hangers typically include two clamps or clips on separate ends of a rod or bar. An early example of such a garment hanger is evident in U.S. Pat. No. 648,534 to Seger. A hook is connected to the rod such that the rod is substantially balanced when the hook is hung on another rod, hook, or the like. Each of the clamps may be opened and then closed such that each holds an external portion of a garment by pinching the front and back waistband of the garment together hard enough to counteract the force of gravity.
Such hangers can be ideal for lower-body garments, such as for example, pants and skirts having a waist size of about 30 inches or less. However, if the waist size surpasses about 30 inches, a clothing over-hang develops causing the garment to droop and possibly fall off the hanger.
Adjusting the clamps on such hangers in an ideal position on the rod to which to properly hold the associated garment often is a frustrating exercise for both employees and consumers alike. As the clamps may slide on the rod, and as each waist size ideally has a different position of the clamps to properly balance and hold the associated garment, ensuring the correct positioning of the clamps can be trying.
Further frustration can occur as an individual tries to determine the size of a garment hanging on such a clamp-like hanger. Often times the garment is accidentally pulled from the hanger, whether partially or fully, and then the individual must fumble with re-hanging the garment.
Some commercially available hangers also include numbered and/or color coded identifiers; such identifiers meant to identify the size of an associated garment. However, use of such hangers assumes that customers and retailers hang a garment on a hanger having the correct identifier.
Thus, what is desired is a garment hanger that allows for simple adjustment to hold any size garment, and also permit easier access to determine the size of the respective garment.
The various exemplary embodiments include a garment hanger comprised of an oblong body member, a first arm and a second arm, a cog, a locking mechanism, a calibration means, and a suspending means. The first arm and second arm are each connected inside the oblong body member on opposing sides, and arm having a gear teeth on a side of the arm closest to a center of the oblong body member. The cog has a gear design substantially matching and engaged with the gear teeth of the first arm and second arm, and located substantially in the center of the oblong body member between the first arm and second arm.
The various exemplary embodiments further include a method of supporting a garment. The method is comprised of placing a garment hanger inside the waistband of a garment, wherein the garment hanger is comprised of an oblong body member; a first arm and a second arm, each connected inside the oblong body member on opposing sides, and arm having a gear teeth on a side of the arm closest to a center of the oblong body member; a cog having an gear design substantially matching and engaged with the gear teeth of the first arm and second arm, located substantially in the center of the oblong body member between the first arm and second arm; a locking mechanism; a calibration means; and a suspending means. The first arm and second arm are moved away from the oblong body member in a synchronous movement such that the waist band contacts a first hand of the first arm and a second hand of the second arm. The locking mechanism is engaged, and the garment hanger is hanged via the suspending means.
The various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, which will become more apparent as the description proceeds, are described in the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Each of the first arm and the second arm extend into the oblong body member, preferably up to a distance of about just over half of the overall length of the oblong body member. It is preferred that the first arm and second arm overlap one another inside the oblong body member. Each of the first arm and the second arm may be comprised of metal, plastic, alloy, ceramic, or a combination thereof.
Each of the first arm and second arm may be substantially oblong in shape, for example, rectangular or cylindrical. Each arm includes a set of gear teeth 32 and 42. In a preferred embodiment, the gear teeth are on a side of the arm closest to the center of the oblong body member.
Substantially central in the oblong body member is a cam, gear, or cog 60, having a gear design 63 which substantially matches the gear teeth of each of the first arm and second arm. See
In various exemplary embodiments, at least one of the first arm or second arm includes a set of ratchet inclined teeth 70 on a topside 35 of the respective arm. In another exemplary embodiment, the ratchet inclined teeth are on a bottom side of the respective arm. The set of ratchet inclined teeth corresponds to a locking mechanism 75. The locking mechanism includes one or more teeth for retaining the one or more arms in a desired locked position relative to the cog.
In another exemplary embodiment, both the first arm and the second arm include a set of ratchet inclined teeth, 70 and 71, respectively, on a topside 35 and 45, respectively, of each arm. In an alternative embodiment, ratchet inclined teeth may exist on a bottom side of one or more arms. In this embodiment, the set of ratchet inclined teeth of the first arm are opposite that of the set of ratchet inclined teeth of the second arm. See,
Further, in the exemplary embodiment in which the both the first arm and the second arm include a set of ratchet inclined teeth; the locking mechanism includes at least two teeth for retaining both the first arm and the second arm. In this embodiment, one of the at least two teeth will correspond to the incline of the ratchet inclined teeth of the first arm, and one of the at least two teeth will correspond to the incline of the ratchet inclined teeth of the second arm.
The locking mechanism may be a means of restricting the movement of the cog.
The locking mechanism may have a spring release such that upon release of the locking mechanism, that is, separating the one or more teeth from the one or more sets of ratchet inclined teeth, each of the first arm and second arm may move substantially equidistance to or from one another relative to the cog between them in the oblong body member. Upon engagement of the locking mechanism, that is, contacting the one or more teeth with the two or more sets of ratchet inclined teeth, each of the first arm, second arm, and cog substantially stop moving.
On the outer end of each arm, that is, the end furthest from the oblong body member, is a hand 80 and 90 for gripping and holding a garment. The hand may be molded or cast as one piece with the arm; it may be connected permanently; or it may be detachable.
The hand may be of any desired shape. In a preferred embodiment, the hand is shaped as shown in
In the various exemplary embodiments, the arm includes a stop at the end of the arm opposite the hand. The stop substantially prevents removal or disengagement of the arm from the oblong body member.
In various exemplary embodiments, one or more rubber pads (not shown) may be attached to an outside portion 96 of the hand to diminish loss of a supported garment.
In other various exemplary embodiments, a notch 97 may be located on the outside portion of the hand between the top portion and the bottom portion.
A garment may be supported and suspended by the present invention by positioning the oblong body member inside the waist of a lower-body garment. The first arm and second arm are then moved outwardly away from the oblong body member. See
In a preferred embodiment, the hands contact the garment at the waistband and the hand is shaped and sloped outward such that the garment slides into a resting position such that the knob of the hand rests just below the waistband of the garment.
Once the arms and hands are extended to a position at which the associated garment may be supported, the locking mechanism is checked to ensure that it is in a closed position to substantially ensure that the arms do not move inward.
To remove the garment from the present hanger, the locking mechanism is opened to allow free movement of the arms and hand inward towards the oblong body member, thereby releasing the tension supporting the garment.
Various hands, examples of which are set forth above, may be used for varying lower-body garments, based on various styles, fashions, cuts, and the like. In addition, as desired, the present hanger may be used to stretch garments if a greater amount of tension is applied to the garment.
In the various exemplary embodiments, the first arm and second arm are substantially identical in length, and move in a synchronous motion governed by the cog. This synchronous movement allows for a calibration means 100.
In various exemplary embodiments, the calibration means of the various exemplary embodiments is a window in the oblong body member in which a letter, number, symbol, barcode, color, or a combination thereof, is shown as the first arm and second arm synchronously move away from or into the oblong body member. Such calibration allows for a greater degree of standardization in size, not only to the consumer, but also to the manufacturer and retailer.
For example, there are typically complaints by retailers and consumers alike that a particular waist size for one manufacturer is not identical to the allegedly same waist size of another manufacturer. The calibration means of the various exemplary embodiments herein obviates such concern, as the waist size represented in the calibration means will identify the actual waist size, despite the manufacturer, cut, style, etc. This also assists in obviating any question of mail or Internet purchases of lower-body clothing, as a calibrated standard may be shown and used by the retailer; thereby limiting returns to retailer for incorrect sizes.
In the various exemplary embodiments in which the calibration means illustrates a color spectrum related to size, customers and retailers may more easily identify the size being sought. For example, rather than looking for a “size 34” on many pairs of jeans, one could just look quickly for the color green in the calibration means. The color spectrum could also be represented from blues to greens to yellows to reds, with reds being the largest sizes, to identify greater health risks to the individual.
In other exemplary embodiments, the calibration means may be a letter, number, symbol, barcode, color, or a combination thereof visible on the arm. For example, as the arms are moved in and out of the oblong body member, a number closest to the oblong body member may identify the size of the associated garment.
A calibration means on the arms may further support size-integrity of a garment shown in a catalog or online, when, for example, a first hanger according to the present invention may be present in the waistband of the garment and the same or second hanger may be placed towards the lower portion of the same garment to show how the garment tapers, etc. Doing so allows for extrapolation of garment dimensions from the picture of the garment with the hanger.
In addition, a pressure-sensitive transmitter may be adapted for an individual hanger to provide retailers with point-of-contact information such as the number of times a particular pair of clothing is removed from the hanger, and assumingly, tried on by an individual. Further, such transmitter may identify when a garment is not replaced to the hanger, thereby raising prompt questions of theft.
Although the description herein describes the present invention in association with primarily lower-body garment, it should be understood that the hangers many also be used for upper-body garments such as shirts, coats, and the like.
While this invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the invention as set forth above are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application for a patent claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/721,901 as filed Sep. 30, 2005.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60721901 | Sep 2005 | US |