1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus which hangs garments. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a garment hanger for drying and/or storing various articles of clothing.
2. Background of the Art
Devices for suspending articles of clothing are known in the art. In many instances, they are used for storing, displaying, and/or transporting various articles of clothing. As is typical with known devices, various structures are used to attach the articles of clothing to the device. These structures include clips that may be biased in an open or closed position, hooks, repositionable arms, etc. One feature that is common with many known devices is a hook or other suitable structure for hanging the device to a rod or other supporting structures.
The present disclosure relates to a garment hanger for supporting selected garments. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the garment hanger includes at least one frame member, at least one garment support member and at least one biasing element. The frame member includes at least one vertical member and at least one horizontal member. The horizontal member extends from at least one of the vertical members. The garment support member is pivotally attached to at least one of the horizontal members and is movable between a first position where it can accept a garment towards at least a second position where it can support a garment. The biasing element is in mechanical cooperation with one or both of a garment support member and a horizontal member and biases at least one garment support member towards its second position.
In an embodiment of the presently disclosed garment hanger, at least one garment support member is movable from a first position towards at least a second position. In the first position, a garment can be accepted between the garment support member and the horizontal member. In the second position, a garment can be supported between the garment support member and the horizontal member. It is envisioned that the garment support member is biased towards its second position via a biasing element, which may be removable. It is also envisioned that the garment support member is able to releasably connect to a horizontal member.
In a disclosed embodiment, the biasing element is substantially V-shaped and may include at least one aperture extending at least partially therethrough. In this embodiment, the aperture is insertable over a corresponding plug disposed on a garment support member and/or a horizontal member. At least one ridge may be disposed on a garment support member or a horizontal member to limit movement of the biasing element.
It is contemplated that a horizontal member may include a rail. The rail allows a garment support member to be slidably positioned along the horizontal member. In a further embodiment, the rail has a plurality of detents thereon defining a plurality of positions. A garment support member is able to be repositioned between the plurality of positions.
In another embodiment, a horizontal member includes at least one hole extending therethrough. The hole enhances air circulation through the garment member. It is contemplated that the hole(s) at least partially aligns with the slot(s) in the garment support member.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, there is a first frame member and a second frame member. The first frame member is hingedly connected to the second frame member. It is envisioned for a barrel hinge to connect the frame members. It is envisioned for the first frame member to include a clip and for the second frame member to include an orifice. In such an embodiment, the clip of the first frame member is matable with the orifice of the second frame member.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described hereinbelow with reference to the drawings wherein:
Embodiments of the presently disclosed garment hanger are now described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views.
Initially referring to
A garment hanger in accordance with the present disclosure is referred to in
Referring now to
As seen in
After the desired number of garments have been placed in the gap, the garment support member 150 is pivoted from its first or open position towards its second or closed position (i.e., towards the horizontal member 130), thereby reducing the size of the gap, until portions of the garments are captured between the garment support member 150 and the horizontal member 130 (see
The slots 160 are positioned along the garment support member 150 and provide pathways for air to circulate, thereby enhancing the drying of the garments supported by garment support member 150. In one embodiment, circulation of air through slots 160 is further enhanced by holes 136 that are disposed along the horizontal member 130. It is envisioned that a least a portion of a slot 160 is aligned with at least a portion of a hole 136. The garments may be removed by pivoting the garment support member 150 away from the horizontal member 130. When removing the garments, the clips 134 are biased such that they do not engage the openings 164, thereby allowing pivotal movement of the garment support member 150 away from the horizontal member 130 to increase the size of the gap and release the portions of the garments disposed therebetween.
A majority of the figures illustrate the garment hanger 100 having three horizontal members 130, but it is envisioned for the garment hanger 100 to have fewer than or more than three horizontal members 130. As illustrated in
Another embodiment of a garment support member 154 is illustrated in
As illustrated in
Biasing element 180 includes a substantially V-shaped (including a substantial U-shape) length of material (e.g., metal, plastic, or the like) having a first leg 182 and a second leg 184. The first leg 182 is secured to at least one horizontal member 130, 130′ and the second leg 184 is secured to at least one garment support member 150, 150′ (e.g., first leg 182 is secured to horizontal member 130 and second leg 184 is secured to garment support member 150). Biasing element 180 is configured to bias the first leg 182 and the second leg 184 in opposite directions from each other. In this embodiment, lower portions 151, 151 ′ of garment support members 150, 150′ are biased towards the horizontal members 130, 130′, respectively.
Biasing element 180 may be permanently affixed (e.g., soldered) or removably secured to horizontal members 130, 130′ and/or garment support members 150, 150′.
Additionally, at least one ridge 194 (several pairs of ridges 194 are shown) may be included on the horizontal members 130, 130′ (see
It is envisioned that a plurality of plugs and/or projections 190, 192 may be included on any horizontal member 130a, 130b, 130c, 130a′, 130b′, 130c′ and/or any garment support member 150a, 150b, 150c, 150a′, 150b′, 150c′, 152a, 152b, 154, thus enabling the biasing element 180 to be positioned at various locations. It is also envisioned that a plurality of biasing elements 180 may be included. Additionally, the biasing element 180 may be used alone or in conjunction with other elements of the garment hanger 100 such as the spring 156, clip 134 or opening 164.
As can be appreciated with reference to
In another embodiment, the garment support members 152a and 152b include an engagement structure (not shown) for releasably connecting to one another. In such an embodiment, the garment support members 152a and 152b function as a single garment support member.
As illustrated in
As shown in phantom in
It is envisioned that each frame member 110, 110′ includes only one vertical member 120, 120′, as opposed to a pair of vertical members. In such an embodiment, the horizontal members 130, 130′ will be cantilevered with respect to the vertical member 110, 110′.
While the above description contains many specifics, these specifics should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but merely as illustrations of various embodiments thereof. For example, the word garment is intended to include all types of items that may become wet, such as for example, towels, rags, tablecloths, rugs, etc. It is also envisioned for the garment support members to be removable from their respective horizontal members. It is further envisioned for the horizontal members and the vertical members not to be horizontal and vertical. Thus, it is envisioned that the horizontal members and the vertical members are not perpendicular to each other. Rather, the horizontal members and the vertical members may form acute or obtuse angles with one another. It is further envisioned for the holes and slots to be of any suitable size and of any regular or irregular shape. Those skilled in the art will envision many other possible variations that are within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.
This application claims the benefits of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/700,911 entitled “GARMENT HANGER” which was filed on Jul. 20, 2005, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60700911 | Jul 2005 | US |