Coil spring hanger clip

Abstract

A clip for securing a garment to a garment hanger is provided, comprising a first jaw with two portions outwardly, upwardly and inwardly extending from an inner surface of the first jaw in a spaced and aligned fashion to respectively define an open-end support; a second jaw with two stub shafts in a spaced and aligned fashion, outwardly, laterally and oppositely extending from an inner surface of the second jaw, each being adapted to be received in the open-end support of the first jaw to form a pivot axis about which the second jaw is pivotally moveable relative to the first jaw; and a coil spring held between the first and second jaws in a manner that two ends of the coil spring respectively press on the first and second jaws so as to serve as a biasing means of the clip for holding the first and second jaws together.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a garment hanger having a pair of garment clips constructed consistent with a first embodiment the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of the garment clip of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the garment clip of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the fixed jaw of the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the fixed jaw of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the fixed jaw, shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the movable jaw of the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the movable jaw of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the movable jaw, shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a front view of the fixed jaw of the clip constructed consistent with a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a front view of the movable jaw of the clip constructed consistent with a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 13 is a side view of a coil spring for use in the clip of the invention.

FIG. 14 is a front view of the garment hanger having the fixed jaws of FIG. 5 with the movable jaw and the coil spring being removed.

FIG. 15 is a front view of the garment hanger having the fixed jaws of FIG. 11 with the movable jaw and the coil spring being removed.

Claims

1. A clip for securing a garment to a garment hanger, which is connected to one end of a hanger arm of the garment hanger, comprising: a first jaw formed integrally with the hanger arm, comprising two portions outwardly, upwardly and inwardly extending from an inner surface of the first jaw in a spaced and aligned fashion to respectively define an open-end support, and a ledge projected from the inner surface of the first jaw to join the two outwardly, upwardly and inwardly directed portions at their lower ends that are the ends closest to a garment-gripping portion of the jaws;a second jaw pivotally mounted to the first jaw, comprising two stub shafts in a spaced and aligned fashion, outwardly, laterally and oppositely extending from an inner surface of the second jaw, each being adapted to be received in the open-end support of the first jaw through the opening of the support to form a pivot axis about which the second jaw is pivotally moveable with respect to the first jaw; anda coil spring held between the first and second jaws in a manner that two ends of the coil spring respectively press on the first and second jaws so as to serve as a biasing means of the clip for holding the first and second jaws together.

2. The clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein a groove is built on the upper inner surface of the first jaw to support the spring and to prevent it from moving or slipping.

3. The clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two outwardly, upwardly and inwardly directed portions of the first jaw are formed symmetrically with a uniform size and configuration.

4. The clip as claimed in claim 3, wherein the two stub shafts of the second jaw are formed symmetrically with a uniform size and configuration so that they are pivotally receivable in the open-end support of the first jaw.

5. (canceled)

6. The clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein a projection extends downwardly from the underside of the ledge along the inner surface of the first jaw.

7. The clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein two vertical parallel ribs are built on the upper inner surface of the second jaw to form a slot for guiding and receiving the coil spring.

8. The clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein a ledge is projected from the inner surface of the second jaw to join the stub shafts at their lower ends.

9. The clip as claimed in claim 8, wherein a projection extends downwardly from the underside of the ledge along the inner surface of the second jaw.

10. The clip as claimed in claim 8, wherein two additional ribs respectively extend downwardly from the underside of the ledge along the inner surface of the second jaw.

11. The clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more rows of teeth are respectively provided on the lower inner surfaces of the first and second jaws.

12. The clip as claimed in claim 11, wherein the teeth are formed at an angle of about 80 degrees relative to the inner surface of the second jaw, and the teeth are formed at an angle of about 90 degrees relative to the inner surface of the first jaw.

13. A garment hanger comprising a hanger arm, a hook member projecting upwardly in the middle of the hanger arm, and a clip disposed at each end of the hanger arm, wherein the clip comprises: a first jaw formed integrally with the hanger arm, comprising two portions outwardly, upwardly and inwardly extending from an inner surface of the first jaw in a spaced and aligned fashion to respectively define an open-end support, and a ledge projected from the inner surface of the first jaw to join the two outwardly, upwardly and inwardly directed portions at their lower ends that are the ends closest to a garment-gripping portion of the jaws;a second jaw pivotally mounted to the first jaw, comprising two stub shafts in a spaced and aligned fashion, outwardly, laterally and oppositely extending from an inner surface of the second jaw, each being adapted to be received in the open-end support of the first jaw through the opening of the support to form a pivot axis about which the second jaw is pivotally moveable with respect to the first jaw; anda coil spring held between the first and second jaws in a manner that two ends of the coil spring respectively press on the first and second jaws so as to serve as a biasing means of the clip for holding the first and second jaws together.

14. The garment hanger as claimed in claim 13, wherein a groove is built on the upper inner surface of the first jaw to support the spring and to prevent it from moving or slipping.

15. The garment hanger as claimed in claim 13, wherein the two outwardly, upwardly and inwardly directed portions of the first jaw are formed symmetrically with a uniform size and configuration.

16. The garment hanger as claimed in claim 15, wherein the two stub shafts of the second jaw are formed symmetrically with a uniform size and configuration so that they are pivotally receivable in the open-end support of the first jaw.

17. (canceled)

18. The garment hanger as claimed in claim 13, wherein a projection extends downwardly from the underside of the ledge along the inner surface of the first jaw.

19. The garment hanger as claimed in claim 13, wherein two vertical parallel ribs are built on the upper inner surface of the second jaw to form a slot for guiding and receiving the coil spring.

20. The garment hanger as claimed in claim 13, wherein a ledge is projected from the inner surface of the second jaw to join the stub shafts at their lower ends.

21. The garment hanger as claimed in claim 20, wherein a projection extends downwardly from the underside of the ledge along the inner surface of the second jaw.

22. The clip as claimed in claim 20, wherein two additional ribs respectively extend downwardly from the underside of the ledge along the inner surface of the second jaw.

23. The garment hanger as claimed in claim 13, wherein one or more rows of teeth are respectively provided on the lower inner surfaces of the first and second jaws.

24. The garment hanger as claimed in claim 23, wherein the teeth are formed at an angle of about 80 degrees relative to the inner surface of the second jaw, and the teeth are formed at an angle of about 90 degrees relative to the inner surface of the first jaw.

25. The garment hanger as claimed in claim 13, wherein the clips disposed at the ends of hanger arm are substantially mirror images of one another, centred about the middle of the hanger arm.

26. The garment hanger as claimed in claim 13, wherein the clips disposed at the ends of the hanger arm are made as a same configuration.

27. The clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ledge is positioned to act as a stop to prevent the coil spring from being pressed too far downwardly between the jaws.

28. The garment hanger as claimed in claim 13, wherein the ledge is positioned to act as a stop to prevent the coil spring being pressed too far downwardly between the jaws.