Patent Application
20100301075
The present invention relates generally to hangers. More particularly, the invention relates to a hanger that allows a user to assemble and store a complete outfit in one place.
Hangers are great for keeping clothing off the floor, but they can protect your clothes from damage as well. Different types are used for different purposes. There are three basic types of clothes hangers. The first is the wire hanger, which has a simple loop of wire, most often steel, in a flattened triangle shape that continues into a hook at the top. The second is the wooden hanger, which consists of a flat piece of wood cut into a boomerang-like shape with the edges sanded down to prevent damage to the clothing, and a hook, usually of metal, protruding from the point. Some wooden hangers have a rounded bar from tip to tip, forming a flattened triangle. This bar is designed to hang the trousers belonging to the jacket. The third kind and most used in today's world are also plastic coat hangers, which mostly mimic the shape of either a wire or wooden hanger. Plastic coat hangers are also produced in smaller sizes to accommodate the shapes of children's clothes.
Hangers may be made in wood, wire, plastic. Some are padded with fine materials, such as satin, for expensive clothes, lingerie and fancy dresses. The soft, plush padding is intended to protect garments from shoulder dents that wire hangers may make.
Some hangers have clips along the bottom for suspending skirts. Dedicated skirt and trousers hangers may not use the triangular shape at all, instead using just a rod with clips. This style can also be used for hanging strapless items. Specialized pant hanger racks may accommodate many pairs of trousers. Foldable clothes hangers that are designed to be inserted through the collar area for ease of use and the reduction of stretching are another variation on traditional clothes hangers.
There are even specially designed hangers for ties, scarves, belts and other accessories. Tie hangers are usually constructed from wood with several clips or bars lined up across the lower rung so ties can be hung up easily. Belt hangers are similar in design, with hooks instead of clips, to help keep belts in place. Scarf hangers are often made from wood with several holes drilled through the body of the hanger; scarves are simply slipped through the holes.
The disadvantage of these types of hangers is that they have limited utility because they only permit certain items of clothing to be hung. Thus, there is a need for hanger that allows a user to assemble and store a complete outfit, including undergarments and socks.
It is a goal of the present invention to provide a hanger that is capable of holding various types of garments.
It is another goal of the present invention to provide a hanger that permits a user to assemble and organize a complete outfit, including undergarments and socks.
It is a further goal of the present invention to provide a hanger that is easily and cost effectively manufactured and marketed.
It is yet another goal of the present invention to provide a hanger that is durably and reliably constructed.
It is yet a further goal of the present invention to provide a hanger that is economical for the buying public.
It is still another goal of the present invention is to provide a hanger that is convenient and extremely easy to use and transport.
Accordingly, such a hanger is provided. The hanger includes a body portion and hook means connected thereto for supporting the body portion. The body portion includes a neck portion, a pair of arms diverging outwardly therefrom. A first bar is positioned between the pair of arms. The first bar contains one or more stationary clips on one side. Alternatively, the stationary clips may be positioned on both sides of the first bar. A second bar is positioned between the hook means and the neck portion of the hanger. The second bar contains at least two adjustable clips and a restraining means to prevent the adjustable clips from falling off the ends of the bar. The hook means includes an arcuate upper portion and a connecting portion. Alternatively, the upper portion of the hook means may be circular.
The features and advantages described herein are not all-inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and not to limit the scope of the inventive subject matter.
The invention will be better understood and features and advantages, other than those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
Referring to the drawings in general, and to
The hanger 10 includes a body portion 20 and hook means 80 connected thereto for supporting the body portion. The body portion 20 and hook means 80 may be made of a variety of materials including, but not limited to, plastic, metal, wood and/or combinations of these materials.
The hook means 80 extends upwardly from the body portion 20. The hook means 80 includes an arcuate upper portion 82 and a connecting portion 84. Alternatively, the upper portion of the hook means 80 may be circular. In one embodiment, the hook means 80 is pivotally connected to the body portion 20. In another embodiment, the hook means 80 is integrated with the body portion 20. In the embodiment shown in
The body portion 20 includes a neck portion 30 and a pair of arms 40 diverging outwardly and downwardly therefrom in a generally straight configuration. It is to be noted that the arms 40 may be of any size, configuration, or cross sectional shape. In one embodiment, the arms 40 may have a textured, slip-resistant finish to prevent garments from slipping off. In another embodiment, the arms 40 may be padded to protect delicate garments. In a different embodiment, the each of the arms 40 may contain a notch for hanging straps.
A first bar 50 is positioned below the neck portion 30 and between the pair of arms 40. One side of the first bar 50 contains one or more stationary clips 60. Alternatively, the stationary clips 60 may be positioned on both sides of the first bar 50. The stationary clips 60 may be a spring clip that is made of plastic or coated metal, or a clothes pin that is made of plastic or wood. As seen in
A second bar 70 is positioned between the hook means 80 and the neck portion 30 of the hanger. In one embodiment, the second bar 70 is integrally formed with neck portion 30. In another embodiment, the second bar 70 is positioned behind neck portion 30. In the embodiment shown in
The second bar 70 contains at least two adjustable clips 90 and a restraining means 75 to prevent the adjustable clips 90 from falling off the ends of the second bar 70. In one embodiment, the restraining means 75 may be integrated with the second bar 70. In another embodiment, the restraining means 75 may be removable. In the embodiment shown in
Referring to
The jaws 92 and finger grips 94 are arranged to be disposed side-by-side with the second bar 70, forming a fulcrum between them, and with the bias means 96 encircling a portion of the second bar 70 to hold the adjustable clip together. The adjustable clip is opened by grasping the finger grips 94 and squeezing them toward each other. Upon release of the finger grips 94, the jaws 92 pivot back together to effect the holding of a garment tightly between the jaws 92.
In one embodiment, the hanger 10 allows the user to secure a pair of pants or a skirt to the second bar 70 via the adjustable clips 90 and to place a coat or shirt over the pair of arms 40 and to secure accessories, i.e.: socks, underwear, to the stationary clips 60. This allows the user to easily and conveniently remove these items from the stationary clips 60.
With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of this disclosure. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.
