GARMENT STRETCHER

Abstract

A garment stretching device comprising: a top T-member defined by a horizontal member and a vertical member, the vertical member having a plurality of notches longitudinally disposed along its surface; a top L-member defined by a horizontal member and a vertical member, the horizontal member and the vertical member each having a plurality of notches longitudinally disposed along their surface; a first bottom member defined by a top horizontal member, a vertical member, and a bottom horizontal member; a second bottom member defined by a top horizontal member, a vertical member, and a bottom horizontal member, the top horizontal member and the bottom horizontal member each having a plurality of notches longitudinally disposed along their surface, wherein the top T-member, the top L-member, the first bottom member, and the second bottom member are configured to adjustably interlock using the pluralities of notches in conjunction with corresponding locking mechanisms.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a garment stretching device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a top T-member according to the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a bottom view of an exemplary embodiment of a top T-member according to the present invention;

FIG. 2C is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a top T-member according to the present invention;

FIG. 2D is an exemplary embodiment of a textured surface according to the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a top L-member according to the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a top L-member according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a first bottom member according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a second bottom member according to the present invention;

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of an outer tubular member according to the present invention;

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of an inner tubular member according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagonal view of an exemplary embodiment of the top T-member having a hanger hook with a split-hook design according to the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is an exploded front view of an exemplary embodiment of a top T-member, top L-member, and a second bottom member having angled notches according to the present invention.

Claims

1. A garment stretching device comprising: a top T-member defined by a substantially straight horizontal member and a substantially straight vertical member substantially perpendicular to said horizontal member, said horizontal member having an adjustment slot formed in its bottom surface, said vertical member having a plurality of notches longitudinally disposed along its surface;a top L-member defined by a substantially straight horizontal member and a substantially straight vertical member substantially perpendicular to said horizontal member, said horizontal member and said vertical member each having a plurality of notches longitudinally disposed along their surface;a first bottom member defined by a substantially straight top horizontal member, a substantially straight vertical member substantially perpendicular to said top horizontal member, and a substantially straight bottom horizontal member substantially perpendicular to said vertical member, said top horizontal member of said first bottom member having a first adjustment aperture at one end and a second adjustment aperture aligned with said vertical member, said bottom horizontal member having an adjustment aperture at one end; anda second bottom member defined by a substantially straight top horizontal member, a substantially straight vertical member substantially perpendicular to said top horizontal member, and a substantially straight bottom horizontal member substantially perpendicular to said vertical member, said top horizontal member having a plurality of notches longitudinally disposed along its surface and an adjustment aperture substantially aligned with said vertical member, said bottom horizontal member having a plurality of notches longitudinally disposed along its surface,wherein said plurality of notches on said vertical member of said top T-member are configured to adjustably interlock with a locking mechanism on said vertical member of said first bottom member, said plurality of notches on said horizontal member of said top L-member are configured to adjustably interlock with a locking mechanism on said horizontal member of said top T-member, said plurality of notches on said vertical member of said top L-member are configured to adjustably interlock with a locking mechanism on said vertical member of said second bottom member, said plurality of notches on said top horizontal member of said second bottom member is configured to adjustably interlock with a locking mechanism on said top horizontal member of said first bottom member, and said plurality of notches on said bottom horizontal member of said second bottom member is configured to adjustably interlock with a locking mechanism on said bottom horizontal member of said first bottom member, thereby allowing for the positioning of said top T-member, said top L-member, said first bottom member, and said second bottom member with respect to one another to be maintained.

2. The garment stretching device of claim 1, wherein: said horizontal member of said top T-member comprises a first end, a center, and a second end opposite said first end, said adjustment slot formed in the bottom surface of said horizontal member of said top T-member between said center and said second end, said vertical member of said top T-member connected to said horizontal member of said top T-member at a position in between said first end and said center;said horizontal member of said top L-member comprises a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said plurality of notches on said horizontal member of said top L-member being longitudinally disposed along its surface between said first end and said second end, and said vertical member of said top L-member connected to said first end of said horizontal member of said top L-member;said top horizontal member of said first bottom member having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said vertical member of said first bottom member having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said first end of said vertical member connected to said top horizontal member at a position in between said first end and said second end of said top horizontal member, said first adjustment aperture of said top horizontal member being disposed at said second end, said bottom horizontal member having a first end connected to said second end of said vertical member of said first bottom member and a second end opposite said first end of said bottom horizontal member, said adjustment aperture of said bottom horizontal member disposed at said second end of said bottom horizontal member; andsaid top horizontal member of said second bottom member having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said vertical member of said second bottom member having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said first end of said vertical member connected to said top horizontal member at a position in between said first end and said second end of said top horizontal member, said plurality of notches on said top horizontal member being longitudinally disposed between said second end of said top horizontal member and said vertical member, said bottom horizontal member having a first end connected to said second end of said vertical member and a second end opposite said first end of said bottom horizontal member, said plurality of notches on said bottom horizontal member being longitudinally disposed between said second end of said bottom horizontal member and said vertical member.

3. The garment stretching device of claim 2, wherein: said horizontal member of said top T-member further comprises a hollow interior in communication with said adjustment slot, said hollow interior and said adjustment slot configured to receive said horizontal member of said top L-member and allow for the horizontal adjustment of said horizontal member of said top L-member inside said horizontal member of said top T-member;said top horizontal member of said first bottom member further comprising a hollow interior in communication with said first adjustment aperture of said top horizontal member of said first bottom member, said hollow interior and said first adjustment aperture configured to receive said top horizontal member of said second bottom member and allow for the horizontal adjustment of said top horizontal member of said second bottom member inside said top horizontal member of said first bottom member;said vertical member of said first bottom member further comprising a hollow interior in communication with said second adjustment aperture of said top horizontal member of said first bottom member, said hollow interior and said second adjustment aperture configured to receive said vertical member of said top T-member and allow for the vertical adjustment of said vertical member of said top T-member inside said vertical member of said first bottom member;said bottom horizontal member of said first bottom member further comprising a hollow interior in communication with said adjustment aperture of said bottom horizontal member of said first bottom member, said hollow interior and said adjustment aperture configured to receive said bottom horizontal member of said second bottom member and allow for the horizontal adjustment of said bottom horizontal member of said second horizontal member inside said bottom horizontal member of said first bottom member; andsaid vertical member of said second bottom member further comprising a hollow interior in communication with said adjustment aperture of said top horizontal member of said second bottom member, said hollow interior and said adjustment aperture configured to receive said vertical member of said top L-member and allow for the vertical adjustment of said vertical member of said top L-member inside said vertical member of said second bottom member.

4. The garment stretching device of claim 3, wherein said top T-member further comprises a hanger hook disposed at about the center of said horizontal member of said top T-member, said hanger hook comprising a shaft extending away from the surface of said horizontal member of said top T-member and terminating in a hook end.

5. The garment stretching device of claim 3, wherein said top T-member further comprises a hanger hook disposed at about the center of said horizontal member of said top T-member, said hanger hook comprises a shaft extending away from the surface of said horizontal member of said top T-member and terminating in two separate hook ends, said separate hook ends being disposed substantially perpendicular to one another.

6. The garment stretching device of claim 3, wherein said horizontal member of said top L-member further comprises a set of size indicium displayed on its outer surface, said set of size indicium corresponding to said plurality of notches on said horizontal member of said top L-member.

7. The garment stretching device of claim 6, wherein said horizontal member of said top T-member further comprises a size indication aperture, said size indication aperture defined by an opening configured to allow a user to view one of said set of size indicium when said horizontal member of said top L-member is disposed within said hollow interior of said horizontal member of said top T-member, said one of said set of size indicium corresponding to whichever notch of said horizontal member of said top L-member is being engaged by said locking mechanism on said horizontal member of said top T-member.

8. The garment stretching device of claim 3, wherein said bottom horizontal member of said second bottom member further comprises a set of size indicium displayed on its outer surface, said set of size indicium corresponding to said plurality of notches on said horizontal member of said second bottom member.

9. The garment stretching device of claim 8, wherein said bottom horizontal member of said first bottom member further comprises a size indication aperture, said size indication aperture defined by an opening configured to allow a user to view one of said set of size indicium on said bottom horizontal member of said second bottom member when said bottom horizontal member of said second bottom member is disposed within said hollow interior of said bottom horizontal member of said first bottom member, said one of said set of size indicium corresponding to whichever notch of said bottom horizontal member of said second bottom member is being engaged by said locking mechanism on said bottom horizontal member of said first bottom member.

10. The garment stretching device of claim 3, wherein said horizontal member and said vertical member of said top T-member, said horizontal member and said vertical member of said top L-member, said top horizontal member, said vertical member, and said bottom horizontal member of said first bottom member, said top horizontal member, said vertical member, and said bottom horizontal member of said second bottom member all comprise a substantially tubular shape.

11. The garment stretching device of claim 10, wherein: said horizontal member of said top T-member comprises a protrusion longitudinally disposed along its surface and extending towards its interior, said horizontal member of said top L-member comprising a guide notch longitudinally disposed along its surface and having a size and shape that corresponds with said protrusion on said horizontal member of said top T-member, thereby allowing said protrusion on said top T-member to run within said guide notch on said top L-member and prevent said top T-member and said top L-member from rotating with respect to one another;said top horizontal member of said first bottom member comprises a protrusion longitudinally disposed along its surface and extending towards its interior, said top horizontal member of said second bottom member comprising a guide notch longitudinally disposed along its surface and having a size and shape that corresponds with said protrusion on said top horizontal member of said first bottom member, thereby allowing said protrusion on said first bottom member to run within said guide notch on said second bottom member and prevent said first bottom member and said second bottom member from rotating with respect to one another;said bottom horizontal member of said first bottom member comprises a protrusion longitudinally disposed along its surface and extending towards its interior, said bottom horizontal member of said second bottom member comprising a guide notch longitudinally disposed along its surface and having a size and shape that corresponds with said protrusion on said bottom horizontal member of said first bottom member, thereby allowing said protrusion on said first bottom member to run within said guide notch on said second bottom member and prevent said first bottom member and said second bottom member from rotating with respect to one another;said vertical member of said first bottom member comprises a protrusion longitudinally disposed along its surface and extending towards its interior, said vertical member of said top T-member comprising a guide notch longitudinally disposed along its surface and having a size and shape that corresponds with said protrusion on said vertical member of said first bottom member, thereby allowing said protrusion on said first bottom member to run within said guide notch on said vertical member of said top T-member and prevent said first bottom member and said top T-member from rotating with respect to one another; andsaid vertical member of said second bottom member comprises a protrusion longitudinally disposed along its surface and extending towards its interior, said vertical member of said top L-member comprising a guide notch longitudinally disposed along its surface and having a size and shape that corresponds with said protrusion on said vertical member of said second bottom member, thereby allowing said protrusion on said second bottom member to run within said guide notch on said vertical member of said top L-member and prevent said second bottom member and said top L-member from rotating with respect to one another.

12. The garment stretching device of claim 3, wherein said locking mechanisms on said vertical member of said first bottom member, said horizontal member of said top T-member, said vertical member of said second bottom member, said top horizontal member of said first bottom member, and said bottom horizontal member of said first bottom member each comprise a flexible lever having a portion that protrudes into their respective member interiors, said portion being configured to interlock with corresponding notches on said vertical member of said top T-member, said horizontal member of said top L-member, said vertical member of said top L-member, said top horizontal member of said second bottom member, and said bottom horizontal member of said second bottom member.

13. The garment stretching device of claim 1, further comprising a release cord attached to said locking mechanisms on said vertical member of said first bottom member, said horizontal member of said top T-member, said vertical member of said second bottom member, said top horizontal member of said first bottom member, and said bottom horizontal member of said first bottom member, wherein a user may unlock said locking mechanisms from their respective notches by pulling on said release cord.

14. The garment stretching device of claim 1, wherein the only adjustable interlocking frame members that said garment stretching device consists of are top T-member, top L-member, first bottom member, and second bottom member.

15. The garment stretching device claim 1, wherein at least one of said horizontal member of said top T-member, said top horizontal member of said first bottom member, said vertical member of said first bottom member, said top horizontal member of said second bottom member, and said vertical member of said second bottom member comprise a textured outer surface.

16. The garment stretching device of claim 2, wherein said adjustment slot extends from said second end of said horizontal member of said top T-member towards said center of said horizontal member of said top T-member.

17. The garment stretching device of claim 2, wherein all of said pluralities of notches are uniform in size and shape.

18. The garment stretching device of claim 2, wherein all of said pluralities of notches comprise an angled configuration allowing a user to expand said garment stretching device without manually disengaging a corresponding said locking mechanism.

19. The garment stretching device of claim 6, wherein said set of size indicium on said horizontal member of said top L-member comprises imprinted text.

20. The garment stretching device of claim 8, wherein said set of size indicium on said bottom horizontal member of said second bottom member comprises imprinted text.