Patent Application
20070068981
The present invention relates to a clothes holding device such as a hanger used for holding clothes, especially, jackets.
As a clothes holding device, a hanger is generally known, and conventionally various improved techniques of the hanger have been proposed.
As an example, an arm-opening/closing hanger which can be easily opened/closed by a single hand even when the other hand is not available is disclosed (for example, see Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2001-286382).
Further, an adjustable clothes hanger having a movable arm which moves from a central position in its lengthwise direction is disclosed (for example, see Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2002-142954).
However, hangers according to the above-described conventional techniques have a large number of constituent parts, accordingly, the production cost is high.
Further, as the thickness of the hangers according to the above-described conventional techniques is not negligible, when plural hangers of the same type are packed and conveyed, the parcel is bulky.
Further, the constituent parts of the hangers according to the above-described conventional techniques are formed with different materials, when the hangers are disposed and recycled, a process to classify such parts of different materials is necessary. For this purpose, work and cost are increased.
Further, the hangers according to the above-described conventional-techniques, having a complicated structure, do not have an aesthetic design in some cases, which may soil fashionable touches of clothes to be held and the beauty of shop interior as exhibition space of the clothes.
Especially, in a ladies' dress shop where fashion is the main concept of business, it may be difficult to use the hangers according to the conventional~techniques without hesitation.
The present invention has been made in consideration of the problems of the above described conventional techniques, and has its object to provide a clothes holding device which is easily manufactured (assembled or formed), and which leads to high productivity, further, which is compact, light-weighted, and convenient for packaging and conveyance, and further, which has parts easily classified upon recycling.
Further, the present invention has another object to provide a clothes holding device which improves the beauty of interior of space to hold clothes without spoiling fashionable touches of clothes to be held.
A clothes holding device according to the present invention comprises a plate member (10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F) having a line symmetrical shape with at least one straight line (X-axis or Y-axis) as a symmetrical axis and flexibility. The plate member is bent on the symmetrical axis, and clothes are held with a bent portion (13). (claim 1).
In accordance with the present invention, the line symmetrical shape is a cross shape (first embodiment to third embodiment), and an engagement member (16T, 16B; 23T, 23B) is formed at an end of a projection (12T, 12B) of the cross shape. When~the plate member is bent on the symmetrical axis (X-axis), it-is.-preferable that the engagement members (16T, 16B; 23T, 23B) formed in areas not including the symmetrical axis (X-axis) engage with each other, and maintain a state where the plate member is bent on the symmetrical axis (X-axis) (claim 2).
Note that the clothes holding device according to the present invention may be formed with a single flexible material (for example, a synthetic resin material), or with a plural types of (for example, two types) materials including at least one flexible material such as synthetic resin material.
When the clothes holding device is formed with two types of materials, a part formed with the non-flexible material is, e.g., a metal hook button (21T and 21B). When the flexible plate member is bent to hold clothes, the hook button (21T and 21B) is used as a bent-state holding member to hold a state where the flexible plate member is bent on the symmetrical axis (X-axis or Y-axis).
Further, in the clothes holding-device according to the present invention having the engagement member (clothes holding device in claim 2), when a “score” is selected as the engagement member (16T, 16B; 23T, 23B) formed at the end of the projection (12T, 12B) of the cross shape, the engagement member is a simple member to realize engagement by simply engaging the scores (16T, 16B; 22T, 22B).
Otherwise, the engagement member (16T, 16B; 22T, 22B) may be attachably/removably provided.
Further, in a clothes holding device according to the present invention, a flexible member (10A) forming the surface of a wall plane (W) is cut into a line symmetrical shape with a horizontal axis (X) as a symmetrical axis. A vertical-directional upper area (14T) is not cut while a vertical-directional lower area (14B) is bent along the horizontal axis.(X), and the bent portion (13) and a remaining portion (vertical-directional upper area 14T) hold clothes (claim 3).
In this case, an engagement member (21T, 21B; 16T, 16B; 23T, 23B) is provided in the vertical-directional upper area (14T) and in the vertical-directional lower area (14B), and the engagement members (21T, 21B; 16T, 16B; 23T, 23B) are engaged with each other, thereby a status where the vertical-directional lower area is bent along the horizontal axis (X) is maintained (claim 4).
Hereinbelow, preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail in accordance with the accompanying drawings.
First, an example of a first embodiment in
The clothes hanger 1 is formed with a plate main member 10 of e.g. resin having flexibility and a pair of hook buttons 21T and 21B of e.g. metal.
When the clothes hanger 1 is not used, the plate main member 10 has a horizontal shaft member 11 (bend 13) where rings are formed at both left and right ends 11L and 11R on the horizontal axis X and an outer edge becomes thick toward the center in the horizontal direction, and a vertical shaft member 12 where rings are formed at both upper and lower ends 12T and 12B on the vertical axis Y and an outer edge becomes thick toward the center in the vertical direction.
The horizontal shaft member 11 and the vertical shaft member 12 intersect and connected with each other in a so-called “cross” shape.
Further, a first hook button 21T is attached around an upper end (12T) of the vertical axis Y, and a second hook button 21B to be engaged with the first hook button 21T is attached around a lower end (12B) of the vertical axis Y.
When clothes hanger is used as a hanger, as indicated with an arrow A1 in
As shown in
According to the above-described first embodiment, a plate member of e.g. plastic as the main member (plate main member) 10 is folded along the central horizontal axis X, and the pair of metal hook buttons 21T and 21B are engaged with each other. Accordingly, the hanger is very thin. In addition, when the hanger is not used, it is developed to the cut-out shape. Accordingly, a stack of the clothes hangers 1 is not bulky, and convenient for packaging and conveyance.
Since the plate main members 10 and 10A can be trim-cut with a trimming blade when plural formed-and-fabricated materials (flexible resin) S are overlaid, the productivity is very high.
As the processing of the plate main members 10 and 10A is merely cutting resin raw material S having flexibility, a free curve can be selected as a developed shape, and a high function of interior can be obtained. Accordingly, the clothes hanger can be applicable as a device (hanger) to hold clothes and an interior material.
As the pair of hook buttons 21T and 21B are used as the engagement members, the plate main member can be easily formed in a hanger shape by being folded at the center in the up-and-down direction and inserting the hook buttons 21T and 21B to each other.
In
When the clothes hanger is used, when the hook buttons 21B and 21T are engaged, the plate main member is folded along the X-axis as in the case of
On the other hand, when the plate main member is folded (or bent) so as to engage the hook buttons 21B2 and 21T2 with each other, the plate main member is bent on the Y-axis as indicated with an arrow A2 in
That is, in the second embodiment in
In
Accordingly, in the hanger according to the second embodiment in
In other words, the hanger according to the embodiment in
Regarding the other constituent elements and effects, the second embodiment in
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8. In FIGS. 5 to 8, the clothes hanger is denoted by reference numeral 1B.
In the third embodiment in FIGS. 5 to 8, the difference from the embodiments in FIGS. 1 to 4 is that a member to engage the upper end 12T and the lower end 12B of the vertical shaft member 12 when a plate main member. 10B in a developed state is fold-bent along the horizontal axis X into a hanger shape is provided, and a design hole C is provided around the both ends 11L and 11R of the horizontal shaft member 11.
The member to engage the upper and lower ends 12T and 12B of the vertical shaft member 12 is formed as follows. That is, a semi-circular score (slit) 16T is formed in a position around the upper end 12T and an upper position in the figure. On the other hand, a semi-circular score (slit) 16B is formed in a position around the lower end 12B and an upper position in
A hole 18 to hang the hanger 1B on a suspension bar member (not shown) is formed in approximately central positions of the two semi-circular slits 16T and 16B.
When the upper and lower ends 12T and 12B of the vertical shaft member 12 are engaged, a lower portion 14B below the horizontal axis X is fold-bent on the horizontal axis X toward nearside (in the direction of an upper portion 14T) as indicated with an arrow A (
Regarding the other constituent elements and effects, the third embodiment in FIGS. 5 to 8 is the same as the above-described embodiments.
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11.
In a clothes hanger 1C (as the plate main member, denoted by numeral 10C) according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention shown in
In the clothes hanger 1C according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention shown in
Note that the engagement slits 16T and 16B to engage the upper end 12T and the lower end 12B remain.
Further, a horseshoe hole 20 is formed, with a curved end directed outside of the horizontal shaft member 11, around the both left and right ends 11L and 11R of the horizontal shaft member 11.
As shown in
In the fourth embodiment in
According to the fourth embodiment having the above-described structure, when the weight of clothes to be hanged is light, the hanger 1C can be suspended by merely pressing the magic tape 19 as a member to hang the hanger 1C on a wall or the like against, e.g., a shaggy fabric wall.
The other constituent elements and effects in the fourth embodiment are the same as those in the third embodiment.
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
A clothes hanger 1D (as the plate main member, denoted by numeral 10D) according to the fifth embodiment in
In
Suspension holes 18, 18 are formed in two positions on the vertical axis Y around the upper and lower ends 12T and 12B of the vertical shaft member 12. In the figure, in the suspension holes 18, 18, straight-line scores (slits) 23T (upper end side) and 23B (lower end side), connecting an outer edge 12R of the vertical shaft member 12 with the holes 18, are formed abeam the holes 18, 18 in mutually “angular” positions at the upper end and the lower end.
Upon engagement of the upper and lower ends 12T and 12B of the vertical shaft member 12, when the plate main member is folded as indicated with an arrow A in
The two groove-type holes 22, 22 are applicable to suspension of a skirt, a muffler or the like (not shown) by passing the skirt or the like through these holes 22, 22.
Regarding the other constituent elements and effects, the fifth embodiment in
Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
As shown in
Further, circular notches 25, 25 are formed in at least one of the upper and lower outer edges of the horizontal shaft member 11 of the plate main member 10E.
In
The other effects in the sixth embodiment are substantially the same as those in the above-described respective embodiments.
Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 to 18.
The respective embodiments in FIGS. 1 to 15 have an approximately cross-shaped plate main member as an independent clothes holding hanger. On the other hand, the seventh embodiment in FIGS. 16 to 18 is apparently different in that a part of a flexible member forming the surface of a wall plane (for example, a carpet) is available as a clothes holding hanger.
As the seventh embodiment in FIGS. 16 to 18 uses a part of a flexible member forming the surface of a wall plane (a carpet or the like), it has a characteristic as an interior fabric in addition to a function as a device to hold clothes.
In FIGS. 16 to 18, a one interior wall plane (one inner wall plane) W and a flexible member S forming the clothes hanger according to the seventh embodiment are illustrated as if they were separate members and only one section of the wall plane W was covered with the flexible member S.
However, the illustration is made merely for the sake of convenience to clearly show the wall plane W and the flexible member S in the figures.
Actually, the flexible member S covers the entire interior-side surface of the wall plane W thus forming a surface of the wall plane W. In other words, the flexible member S shown as if it covered only one area of the wall plane W in FIGS. 16 to 18 is a carpet or the like which covers the whole area of the one interior wall plane W and forms the surface of the one interior wall plane W.
In the flexible member S, at least as a part forming the plate main member 10A of the clothes hanger 1A, although not clearly shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, a laminated material, where non woven fabrics in different designs are used on the surface side and the rear side and a flexible material such as resin plate is inserted therebetween, may be used.
In
In
The wall W appears from a cut-out trace 15 of the lower portion 14 that is folded upward.
Note that in
According to the seventh embodiment of the present invention having the above structure, as in the case of the first to sixth embodiments, the plate main member is bent on the horizontal axis X by folding upward the lower portion 14B of the carpet-like flexible member S below the X-axis forming the surface of the one wall plane W, thereby a part of the flexible member S functions as a clothes holding hanger.
Note that the flexible member S is cut in a line symmetrical shape with the horizontal axis X as a symmetry axis, however, the vertical-directional upper area 14T is not cut. Accordingly, when clothes are not held, the cut area maintains the state as the surface of the wall plane W.
That is, according to the seventh embodiment, in a status where clothes are not held, the clothes holding hanger 1A is assimilated in the flexible member S (for example, a carpet), and to the naked eye, it is grasped not as “a hanger not holding clothes” but “the flexible member S such as a carpet forming a part of the interior”.
In this manner, the clothes holding hanger according to the seventh embodiment has a function as an interior material in addition to the original role to hold clothes.
Note that in some cases, even when the shape as the hanger 1A is maintained, the appearance of the wall W in the cut-out trace 15 as shown in
Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
The eighth embodiment is approximately the same as the seventh embodiment, however, in the seventh embodiment, when the plate main member is used as a hanger (denoted by numeral 1G) as shown in
For example, when woman's clothes are displayed, the use of the spacer produces a three-dimensional display in a portion corresponding to the bust part.
The other constituent elements and effects in the eighth embodiment are the same as those in the seventh embodiment.
Next, a ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 20 to 22.
As in the case of the first to sixth embodiments, in the ninth embodiment, a line symmetrical plate main member is folded on a symmetry axis, thereby a clothes holding hanger is formed.
Partial round members 31T and 31B, covering a woman's hip are formed in upper and lower central portions on the vertical axis Y with the horizontal axis X therebetween, constricted members 32T and 32B, continued from the partial round members 31T and 31B, corresponding to a woman's waste are formed, partial round members 33T and 33B, continued from the constricted members 32T and 32B, corresponding to a woman's bust are formed, and neck members 34T and 34B, continued from the partial round members 33T and 33B, are formed.
Further, the suspension holes 18, 18 and the slits 23T and 23B are formed in the neck members 34T and 34B.
Note that the alphabet T following the respective numerals (31 to 34) indicates the upper side from the horizontal axis X, while the alphabet B, the lower side.
Contours similar to a woman's bust viewed from a side position are formed as scores (slits) 41, 41 with their tips facing each other around the partial round member 33T corresponding to the upper side bust part from the horizontal axis X.
Note that
In this manner, parts of the hanger are risen with the scores 41, 41 thereby three-dimensional representation of the hanger is produced, thereby, in especially women's clothes, display corresponding to a woman's figure can be made.
As a result, when clothes are held with the hanger according to the eighth embodiment, since women as purchasers looking at the clothes (the woman's swimming wear in FIGS. 20 to 22) can imagine states where they wear them from the status held with the hanger, an effect to arouse buying inclination can be expected.
Further, as in the case of a so-called “lay figure”, the hanger can also function as a shop interior material.
The other constituent elements and effects in the ninth embodiment are approximately the same as those in the first embodiment.
The illustrated embodiments are merely examples, but not descriptions to limit the technical scope of the present invention.
For example, the hook buttons 21T and 21B as the engagement members in the first and second embodiments in FIGS. 1 to 4 may be replaced with the scores (slits) 16T and 16B as the engagement members in the third embodiment in FIGS. 5 to 8.
Further, in the sixth embodiment in
According to the clothes holding device of the present invention having the above structure (a clothes holding device in claims 1 and 2), the clothes holding device comprises a flexible plate member (10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F) having flexibility. Upon holding of clothes, the plate member (10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F) is bent on a symmetrical axis (X-axis or Y-axis), and a bent portion (13) holds the clothes.
That is, when it is not necessary to hold clothes (when not used), as the clothes holding device of the present invention is merely a plate member having a line symmetrical shape (developed in a cut-out shape), the plate is very thin. As a stack of large number of plates is not bulky, it is convenient for packaging and conveyance.
Further, upon manufacturing of the clothes holding device having the above structure, as the plate members can be cut (trim-cut) with a trimming blade when plural formed-and-fabricated materials (plate members S of flexible material) are overlaid, the productivity is very high. In other words, the production cost can be extremely low.
Upon manufacturing of the clothes holding device of the present invention (the clothes holding device in claims 1 and 2), as a manufacture process is merely cutting one plate member (formed-and-fabricated material S) having flexibility, a free curve can be selected as a developed shape. Accordingly, the freedom as a hanger shape is very high, and a shape in excellent design or a shape with a fashionable touch can be selected.
Accordingly, the clothes holding device of the present invention (the clothes holding device in claims 1 and 2) attains an effect that the hanger for holding clothes itself improves the beauty of interior.
Further, in the clothes holding device of the present invention where the line symmetrical shape is a cross shape (the clothes holding device in claim 2), when the two symmetrical axes are different in length, a function of a hanger for men's clothes having broad shoulders and a function of a hanger for women's clothes having narrow. shoulders can be performed with one hanger (the clothes holding device in claims 1 and 2).
According to the clothes holding device of the present invention having a flexible member (10A) forming the surface of a wall plane (W) (a clothes holding device in claims 3 and 4), the flexible member is cut in a line symmetrical shape with a horizontal axis (X) as a symmetry axis, however, as a vertical-directional upper area (14T) is not cut, when the device does not hold clothes, a status where the cut area forms the surface of the wall plane (W) is maintained.
That is, when clothes are not held, the clothes holding device (the clothes holding device in claims 3 and 4) is assimilated in the surface (for example, a carpet) of the wall plane (W), and grasped not as “a hanger not holding clothes” but as a part of interior.
Then, upon holding of clothes, a vertical-directional lower area (14B) is bent along the horizontal axis (X), and the bent portion (13) and the remaining portion (the vertical-directional upper area 14T) hold clothes.
In this manner, the above-described clothes holding device (the clothes holding device in claims 3 and 4) has a function as an interior material in addition to the original role to hold clothes.
In addition, according to a clothes holding device of the present invention (the clothes holding device in claims 1 to 4), as a large part of the constituent elements is a plate member having flexibility, almost no classification is necessary for recycling.
Accordingly, the device is appropriate to today's situation where the awareness of ecological problems is high.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP03/15654 | 12/8/2003 | WO | 4/10/2006 |
