Foldable Garment Hanger

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to the field of apparel accessories. More specifically, the present invention relates to a foldable garment hanger that has a main body with a left half or arm and a right half or arm, a hook and a bottom member. Each half of the main body and each half of the bottom member may fold via a hinge or other means, to allow the hanger to fold in half and on itself. Further, one embodiment of the hanger allows each half of the bottom member to be stored inside each half of the main body when not in use. In addition, the hook of the hanger can pivot or be removed.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of clothing accessories. More specifically, the present invention relates to a foldable garment hanger having a main body that has a left half and a right half, a hook and a bottom member or cross support that has a left half and a right half. Each half of the main body and each half of the bottom member may fold via a hinge or other means to allow the hanger to fold in half and to be easily collapsed for storage or traveling. Further, in one embodiment, the hanger allows each half of the bottom member to be stored or concealed inside each half of the main body when the hanger is not in use. In addition, the hook of the hanger can pivot or twist, such that the base of the hook is received by an opening or recess in the top surface and central portion of the main body. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices and methods of manufacture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Garment hangers are from a category of supporting devices used for apparel items and accessories related thereto and are often produced in the shape of human shoulders that can receive and hang garments, such as shirts or blouses, in a manner that prevents or reduces wrinkles. In many locations such as hotel rooms, airlines, restaurants, households, etc., garment hangers are desired but may not available due to a number of factors, such as short supply. Another factor that limits the availability of garment hangers in various locations is the size of a garment hanger. Most garment hangers have a rigid body that cannot be broken down into a smaller size due to the structure of the hanger. As a result, it is often impractical or inconvenient to carry full size garment hangers to locations or areas where they may be needed due to their large size and awkward proportions. Standard hangers are also difficult to pack in soft-sided luggage due to their rigid structure, and can also make placing luggage in an overhead bin of an aircraft difficult. However, this is undesirable as an individual may need a garment hanger at any given time and location, but may not have the required space to store or transport a full-size garment hanger.

Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved garment hanger. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved garment hanger that allows a user to have access to a garment hanger where garment hangers cannot normally be transported or are not available. Finally, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a garment hanger that can be easily folded into smaller dimensions such that it can be conveniently transported from place to place.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises an improved clothing accessory. The foldable garment or apparel hanger has a main body with a left half and a right half, a hook centrally disposed in the main body, and a bottom or cross member that has a left half and a right half. Each half of the main body and each half of the bottom or cross member may fold via a hinge or other means to allow the hanger to be collapsed on itself and folded in half. Further, one embodiment of the hanger allows each half of the bottom member to be stored inside or concealed in each half of the main body when not in use. In addition, the hook of the hanger can pivot or twist, and the base of the hook is received by an opening or recess in the central portion of the top surface of the main body.

In this manner, the foldable or collapsible clothing accessory of the present invention accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives and provides a garment hanger that can be easily folded or collapsed on itself. In this regard, the hanger can be conveniently stored or transported extremely easily. Therefore, the hanger allows a user to have the ability to access a hanger in locations or areas where other existing hangers known in the art may not be able to be stored, carried or possessed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, includes an apparel or clothing accessory. The accessory is a foldable or collapsible garment hanger having a main body that has a left half or side portion and a right half or side portion, a hook having a top portion shaped into a hook and a bottom or base portion for insertion into a central portion of the body and a bottom or cross member that extends between the left and right portions. The cross member is has a left half and a right half. Each of the left and right halves are connected to one another via a hinge, which is centrally disposed in the body that allows both halves or portions to easily fold for storage or transport. Each main body half further includes a folding left half and right half that connect to form the bottom or cross member via a hinge or other folding assist. When connected, the bottom or cross member allows pants or other garments to be hung or supported from the hanger in addition to a top garment that can be hung on the first and second arms of main body. The left half or arm may also have a groove that is engaged by a protrusion of the right half or arm, to allow each half to form the bottom or cross brace member. Although, the groove and protrusion may further be magnetized or contain a locking mechanism, such as but not limited to a clasp that secures both halves to one another. The bottom portion of each half of the main body may further include a hinge that connects each half of the bottom or cross member to each half of the main body. In the preferred embodiment, the hinge is a dial mechanism-style hinge that can click and lock the halves in a plurality of angles or positions in a partially extended state.

Each half of the bottom surface of the main body may also have a groove, channel, cavity or the like that allows each half of the bottom or brace member to be stored within the body of each half of the main body in a fully concealed manner. As a result, this allows the garment accessory to become smaller for transport or storage purposes. The top surface of the right half or left half of the main body also further include an opening that receives the pivotable hook that can be pivoted downward and to the right toward the right arm within the opening, such that the tip of the hook is concealed within the opening in the right half. As such, the overall footprint of the hanger is further reduced to allow the hook to be stored or transported easily. In a differing embodiment of the hanger, the hook may also be completely removable.

Accordingly, the improved foldable garment hanger of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it can fold into smaller dimensions such that it can be easily transported. Therefore, the hanger allows a user to have access to a garment hanger where garment hangers cannot normally be taken or are not available. As a result, the foldable garment hanger apparel accessory overcomes the limitations of existing garment hangers known in the art.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:

FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a foldable garment hanger of the present invention in an unfolded position with the bottom member fully extended accordance with the disclosed structure;

FIG. 1B illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a foldable garment hanger of the present invention in an unfolded position with the bottom member fully extended accordance with the disclosed specification;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a foldable garment hanger of the present invention in an unfolded position with the bottom member partially extended accordance with the disclosed description;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a foldable garment hanger of the present invention in an unfolded position with the bottom member fully retracted accordance with the disclosed structure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a front perspective view of one potential embodiment of a foldable garment hanger of the present invention in a folded position with the bottom member fully retracted accordance with the disclosed architecture and the hook inserted in the right arm of the hanger;

FIG. 5 illustrates a top perspective view of one potential embodiment of a foldable garment hanger of the present invention in a folded position with the bottom member fully retracted accordance with the disclosed specification; and

FIG. 6 illustrates one potential embodiment of a kit for providing the apparel accessory of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention, and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

As noted above, there is a long-felt need in the art for an improved apparel accessory such as a hanger for garments. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved garment hanger that allows a user to have access to a garment hanger where garment hangers cannot normally be taken or are not available due to their rigidity, size or supply. Finally, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a garment hanger that can fold into smaller sizes or dimensions, such that it can be easily transported from place to place.

The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of a foldable or collapsible garment hanger having a main body with a left half or arm and a right half or arm, a hook and a bottom or cross-supporting member that has a left half and a right half. The main body further includes a left half and a right half, and both halves are connected via a hinge that allows both halves to fold for storage or transport. Each half of the main body is also comprised of a folding left half arm and right half arm that connect to form a bottom member along the lower ends of each of the arms via a hinge or pivot point. When connected, the bottom or cross-support member allows pants, intimates or other garments to be hung from the hanger in addition to a top garment. The left half may also have a groove that is engaged by a protrusion of the right half to allow each half to form the bottom or cross-support member. The groove and protrusion may be magnetized or contain a locking mechanism, such as but not limited to a clasp, that secures both halves to one another. The bottom portion of each half of the main body may further include a hinge or pivot point that connects each half of the bottom member, left and right portions to each half of the main body and the left and right arms, respectively. In the preferred embodiment, the hinge is a dial mechanism-style hinge that can click and lock the halves in a plurality of angles or positions in a partially extended state.

The bottom surface of each half of the main body may also have a groove, channel, cavity, detent or similar structure to facilitate locking and folding that allows each half of the bottom member to be stored within the body of each half of the main body in a fully concealed manner, to allow the body to become smaller for transport or storage purposes. The top surface of the right half or left half of the main body is also further includes a semi-continuous opening that receives the pivotable hook that can be pivoted or moved downward and to the right within the opening such that the tip of the hook is concealed within the opening in the right half or right arm. As a result, the overall footprint of the hanger is further reduced to allow it to be stored or transported easily. In a differing embodiment of the hanger, the hook may also be completely removable and replaced with a different hook configuration, so that the hanger can be hung from a different assembly that one may encounter in a hotel, such as a ball or a T-latch.

Accordingly, the improved foldable garment hanger of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it can be folded into smaller dimensions, such that it can be easily transported and stored. Therefore, the hanger allows a user to have access to a garment hanger where garment hangers cannot normally be easily taken or are not available at the location the individual is visiting. As a result, the foldable garment hanger overcomes the limitations of existing garment hangers known in the art.

Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a foldable apparel accessory such as a garment hanger 100 of the present invention in an unfolded position with the bottom or cross-support member 160 fully extended in accordance with the disclosed structure. The hanger 100 preferably includes a main body 110 that has an elongated left half or arm 120 and an elongated right half or arm 130, a hook 134 and a bottom cross-support member 160 that further includes a left half 162 and a right half 166. The left arm and right arm are preferably of a similar length and dimension, and are connected to one another at a first end 105. The left arm and right arm each have a second end 129 and 131. The main body 110 may be of the shape of any existing hanger such as triangular, square, trapezoidal or the like, and may be made of a number of materials, including but not limited to: metals such as aluminum and steel; wood such as but not limited to oak, maple, walnut, cedar, bamboo, etc.; and plastic such as but not limited to acrylic, polycarbonate, polyethylene, thermoplastic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polylactic acid, acetal, nylon, fiberglass and various combinations thereof.

The main body 110 has a left half or arm 120 and a right half or arm 130. In the preferred embodiment, both halves 120, 130 are connected via a hinge 150, such as but not limited to: an offset blind hinge, a knuckle hinge, a butt hinge, a rising butt hinge, a gravity pivot hinge, a ball bearing hinge, a barrel hinge, a concealed hinge, a knife hinge, a piano hinge, a strap hinge, a pivot hinge, a gas-piston hinge, an injection molded hinge, a locking hinge, etc. It is further contemplated that the hinge 150 allows both halves 120, 130 to fold (as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) to allow the hanger 100 to be easily transported and stored in an overall footprint that is smaller than when the hanger 100 is fully extended. The hinge 150 may also contain an opening 112 (e.g. a cavity) that receives a hook 134 or other aid for suspending the body from a rack or other clothing or apparel support. However, in differing embodiments the opening 112 may be within the body of the left half or arm 120 or right half or arm 130.

Each main body half 120, 130 is further comprised of a left half 162 and right half 166 that when connected forms a bottom member 160 which allows pants or other garments to be supported from the hanger 100 in either a folded condition or from one end of the apparel item in addition to a top garment that can be hung from the main body 110. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, the halves 162, 166 of the bottom member 160 are connected via a hinge 170 that is any hinge-type known in the art such as but not limited to: an offset blind hinge, a knuckle hinge, a butt hinge, a rising butt hinge, a gravity pivot hinge, a ball bearing hinge, a barrel hinge, a concealed hinge, a knife hinge, a piano hinge, a strap hinge, a pivot hinge, a gas-piston hinge, an injection molded hinge, a locking hinge, etc. In this manner, both halves 162, 166 can also fold for storage purposes, like the halves 120, 130 of the main body 110.

FIG. 1B illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a foldable apparel accessory, such as a garment hanger 100 of the present invention, in an unfolded position with the bottom member 160 fully extended accordance with the disclosed structure. In this embodiment, the left half 162 has a groove or recess 164 that is engaged by a protrusion or projection 168 of the right half 166, to allow each half 162, 166 to form the bottom member 160. It should be noted that this embodiment allows the bottom member 160 to be easily separated for storage. Further, the groove 164 and male protrusion 168 may further be magnetized or contain a locking mechanism or feature, such as but not limited to a clasp 180 that secures both halves 162, 166 to one another.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a foldable garment hanger 100 of the present invention in an unfolded position with the bottom member 160 partially extended in accordance with the disclosed specification. The bottom portion 126, 140 of each half 120, 130 may further include a hinge 128, 142 that connects each half 162, 166 of the bottom member 160 to each half 120, 130 of the main body 110. In differing embodiments, the hinge 128, 142 may be any hinge-type known in the art such as but not limited to: an offset blind hinge, a knuckle hinge, a butt hinge, a rising butt hinge, a gravity pivot hinge, a ball bearing hinge, a barrel hinge, a concealed hinge, a knife hinge, a piano hinge, a strap hinge, a pivot hinge, a gas-piston hinge, an injection molded hinge, a locking hinge, etc. However, in the preferred embodiment, the hinge 128, 142 is a dial mechanism-style hinge that can click and lock the halves 162, 166 in a plurality of angles or positions in a partially-extended state.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a foldable apparel accessory such as a garment hanger 100 of the present invention in an unfolded position with the bottom member 160 fully retracted in accordance with the disclosed specification. In one embodiment, the bottom surface 122, 136 of each half 120, 130 of the main body 110 may have a groove, channel, cavity, recess or other similar structure 124, 138 that allows each half 162, 166 of the bottom member or cross-support 160 to be stored within the body of each half 120, 130 in a fully concealed manner. This further allows the body 110 to become smaller for transport or storage purposes.

The top surface 132 of the right half 130 (or in alternative embodiments, the top surface of the left half 120, or both halves 120, 130) has an opening 1320. As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the hook 134 is pivotable, and can be pivoted downward and into the right arm within the opening 112, such that the tip 1340 of the hook 134 is concealed within the opening 1320 in the right half 130. In this manner, the overall footprint of the hanger 100 is further reduced to allow it to be stored or transported easily. In a differing embodiment of the hanger 100, the hook 134 may be completely removable. The FIG. 5 embodiment shows the hanger in a fully-folded condition and in a generally rectangular configuration, allowing the hanger to change from its first shape (e.g., a triangle) to a second shape (e.g., a rectangle).

FIG. 6 shows a kit 600 including a package 601 sized and configured for retail or on-line sales. The kit can contain multiple sizes of hangers 605 and 607 so that the invention can be used with both adults and children or varying sizes of clothes. The kit also includes a number of different types of sleeves which fit on the cross-support bar or different cross-support bars 609, 611 and 613 which may have different textures, such as a rubberized coating to prevent the clothing from sliding off, or a soft covering such as may be desired for intimates and other delicate articles. Different types of hangers or hooks may be included in the kit, such as a ball hanger 615, which sits within a ball groove element, a T-bar hanger 617 and a smaller hook 619. The kit also includes pins or clips 621 and 622 that can be attached to the cross-support bar or other portions of the hanger to aid in holding the clothing on the hanger.

Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “foldable garment hanger”, “hanger”, and “device”, are interchangeable and refer to the foldable garment hanger 100 of the present invention.

Notwithstanding the forgoing, the foldable garment hanger 100 of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration and material of the foldable garment hanger 100 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the foldable garment hanger 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the foldable garment hanger 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the foldable garment hanger 100 may be of any size, shape and/or configuration that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.

Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.

What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

Claims

1. An apparel accessory comprising: a left elongated arm;a right elongated arm, wherein each of the left and right elongated arms connect to one another at a center point and further wherein each left and right elongated arms comprise a second end;a body formed by the left and right elongated arms and the center point;a cross support member connected to each of the left and right elongated arms at the second ends; anda hanging member provided at the center point of the body between the left and right elongated arms, wherein the hanging member is repositionable with respect to the center point.

2. The apparel accessory as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparel accessory is a garment hanger generally in a triangular shape.

3. The apparel accessory as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the second ends comprises a hinge member where the cross support member connects to each of the left and right elongated arms.

4. The apparel accessory as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the left and right elongated arms comprise a recessed area.

5. The apparel accessory as recited in claim 4, wherein the recessed area is sized and configured to receive a half of the cross support member.

6. The apparel accessory as recited in claim 5, wherein the cross support member comprises a hinge at a midpoint of the cross support member.

7. The apparel accessory as recited in claim 1, wherein the center point comprises a hinge member for allowing the left and right elongated arms to fold toward one another.

8. The apparel accessory as recited in claim 1, wherein the hanging member is removable from the center point.

9. The apparel accessory as recited in claim 1, wherein the hanging member is moveable toward a select one of the left and right elongated arms.

10. The apparel accessory as recited in claim 9, wherein the select one of the left and right elongated arms has a recess for receiving the hanging member.

11. The apparel accessory as recited in claim 8, wherein the hanging member is one of a hook, a T-bar or a ball.

12. A foldable garment hanger comprising: a generally triangular shaped body, the generally triangular shaped body comprising a left side and a right side connected on one end at a center point, wherein each of the left and right sides comprise a lower end connecting to a support member which extends between the left and rights sides and forms the generally triangular shaped body;the center point having a recess for receiving a hanging member;the support member having a hinge centrally disposed of the support member;each of the left and right sides lower end having a hinge where the left and right sides connects to the support member; andwherein each of the left and right sides have a recess sized and configured to receive half of the bottom support member when the bottom support member is folded about the centrally disposed hinge and lower ends of each of the left and right sides.

13. The foldable garment hanger as recited in claim 12, wherein at least one of the left and right sides has a recess to receive the hanging member.

14. The foldable garment hanger as recited in claim 12, wherein the hanging member is repositionable.

15. The foldable garment hanger as recited in claim 12, wherein the hanging member is one of a hook, a T-bar or a ball.

16. The foldable garment hanger as recited in claim 12, wherein each of the left and right sides comprise a groove and the support member comprises a protrusion which engages the groove.

17. The foldable garment hanger as recited in claim 16, wherein the groove and the protrusion are magnetized.

18. The foldable garment hanger as recited in claim 12, wherein the hanger, when in a fully folded condition, changes its geometric configuration from a triangle to a rectangle.

19. The foldable garment hanger as recited in claim 18, wherein the rectangle has a substantially smaller configuration that the triangle.

20. A kit for providing a foldable apparel accessory, the kit comprising: a first hanger;a second hanger, wherein each of the first and second hangers comprise a size and a configuration and a removable hanging member;a plurality of hanging members for use with each of the first and second hangers;at least one clip for holding an apparel item on one of the first and second hangers; anda plurality of cross bar support members or covers for a cross support bar with each of the covers or cross bar supports providing a different texture.