Various embodiments described herein relate to a multi-position suit hanger system and a method for using the same.
Hangers for clothes are ubiquitous. They populate closets throughout the world and are used to keep people's clothes neat and organized. Some hangers are specialized and used to hang expensive and important clothes, such as a suit of clothes. A suit of clothes typically includes a set of pants and matching suit coat made of the same material. Suits are a common way for some to make a good impression so it is important to hang a suit properly so as to minimize wrinkles and to keep the suit clean. One problem associated with hanging suits occurs when dressing or undressing. The typical hanger for suits includes the hanger having two arms. A pants bar is connected to the two arms and may or may not have a mechanism for holding the pants in place. When dressing, the suit coat must be removed from the hanger and set aside. The pants can then be removed from the pants bar. The pants and shirt are put on initially and the suitcoat is then put on after picking it up from its temporary resting spot. When undressing at the end of the day, the suit coat must be removed and set aside before it is hung after the pants have been placed onto the pants bar between the two arms of the hanger. One solution, a suit valet, is a costly and bulky piece of furniture that generally accommodates only one suit.
The new hanger will make it easy to hang up a suit jacket and a pair of trousers in the order you take them off when undressing—jacket first. It will be unnecessary for someone taking off a suit to put the suit jacket aside while hanging up the trousers.
Likewise, the invention will make it unnecessary to take the suit jacket off the hanger and put it aside to get at the pants when dressing.
Therefore the invention will save suit-wearers steps at both ends of the day. Further it will cut the risks of wrinkling the jacket or getting it dirty. This can easily happen when a jacket is put aside for any length of time, as when a suit-wearer removes his or her jacket at the end of a work day, hours before undressing for bed. These are just a few of the benefits for suit wearers or owners. More benefits will be evident as the various embodiments are further described below.
To get these two benefits, people have sometimes used standing wooden “valets,” and they have sometimes hung their suit jackets and pants on separate hangers.
Our invention has advantages over both. Since the invention is a hanger, it takes up a fraction of the space of a standing valet unit, indeed no floor-space at all. Since it is a single hanger, our invention makes it easy to keep jackets and matching trousers together. Keeping the pieces of a suit from getting separated in the closet is beneficial, since most suits are dark, and closets are often badly lit. Another advantage over using two hangers is that our invention takes up less lateral closet space. A third advantage over using two hangers is that the zippered garment bags used for storing and transporting suits have only small holes at the top for the hooks of hangers, which tend to tear when multiple hooks are stuck through them. Last, the hanging hooks found over the rear doors of many cars don't accommodate multiple hangers easily.
In addition, the invention and its embodiments will benefit clothing salespeople, who hang and unhang suits for customers repeatedly.
It should be noted that the bar 6 is not perfectly horizontal at all times during the operation of the hanger 100. When the hanger 100 is loaded, the bar 6 is more horizontal than when the hanger 100 is unloaded. This will be discussed in further detail below.
The hanger 100 also includes a pivot point 180 which is somewhere along the surface of the question mark hook 1. The pivot point 180 is at or near the contact point of the question mark hook 1 when it hangs on a closet rod or the like (not shown). It should be noted that the pivot point 180 shifts or moves along the surface of the question mark hook 1 as the hanger 100 is loaded with a coat or jacket on the wishbone 2, and then again when the pants are placed on the pants bar 5. The pivot point 180 shown in
In addition, it should be noted that question mark hook 1 is offset a distance 124 from the arms 120, 122 of the wishbone 2. In addition, the question mark hook 1 is offset a distance 126 from the pants bar 5 of the pants hanger 150. Given the fact that the pivot point is on the question mark hook 1, one can see that the offset distance 124 is a moment arm for producing a moment (force at a distance) when a suit coat or jacket (shown in
Now turning to
The loading of the pants onto the pants bar 5 produces a counter clockwise moment that acts to move the entire hanger 100 to the position shown in
The wishbone, 2, is held in the right hand and the jacket in the left hand. (This assumes a right-handed user.) The left-hand wing of the wishbone is slipped into the left shoulder of the jacket, and the hanger is held through the jacket fabric. Then using the right hand, the right-hand wing of the wishbone is slipped into the right shoulder of the jacket. The wishbone may be tilted slightly to make the clearance between the jacket and the horizontal pants bar bigger. Then the hanger is hung up with only the jacket hung on the hanger and not the pants. Due to the offsetting of the hook, 1, shown in
Alternative Embodiments:
In another embodiment of the invention, the tubing that constitutes the wishbone, 2, is replaced by a hollow molded plastic wishbone, which is rounded at the ends to improve the draping of the jacket when hung up. In a further refinement of this embodiment, the molded wishbone is enabled to rock backwards and forwards, without twisting. This is achieved by the presence of a small cylinder which is attached to the hook offset bar 6, just at the point where it meets the swoosh, 3, and which fits up inside a half cylindrical housing in the underside of the hollowed out molded plastic wishbone 2. The opening in the wishbone 2 through which the tubing goes would have to be enlarged into a slot running back to front to allow this rocking to occur. By this means the suit jacket can hang absolutely straight even when the open jaw pants hanger, 4, is kicked out, as in
With respect to the balance question, the invention has a number of alternative embodiments conforming to the following rule or principle. Let n be the multiple that the length of the hook offset bar, 6, is of the length of the swoosh, 3, as seen from above as in
Another alternative embodiment would be to make the hanger from some rigid material other than metal tubing, such as thick wire or plastic. Still another embodiment would be to enhance the rigidity of the whole hanger by “completing” one or both of the open triangular shapes, the wishbone or the open jaw pants hanger, by adding a third side.
Another embodiment would be to make the hook opening, in the question mark hook, 1, elliptical rather than round, to allow the hook to tip over enough when only the jacket is on the hanger.
The suit hanger 700 includes a main body 710. The main body 710 is curved. In this particular embodiment, the curved main body is in the form of a swoosh. Attached the top of the main body 710 is a hook offset bar 706. The hook offset bar 706 has one end attached to the main body 110 and another end attached to a question mark-shaped hook 701. A pants hanger 750 is attached to the other end of the main body 710 of the suit hanger 700. The pants hanger 750 is an open jaw type hanger and includes an open jaw connector bar 754 and a pants hanger bar 755 connected to the open jaw connector bar 754. The pants hanger bar 755 includes a sleeve 756. The sleeve increases the radius of the pants hanger and provides a greater or larger surface over which the pants drape on the pants bar. The greater or larger surface decreases the possibility of the pants bar producing a crease across the leg of the pants. In other embodiments, the pants hanger bar 755 could be made with a larger radius. Any number of materials could be used to form a sleeve 756 or a suitable pants hanger bar 755 with a radius sufficient to substantially prevent pant leg creasing
The hanger 700 also has a separate wishbone 720. Thus, the wishbone 720 can be made of the same or a different material than the main body 710 of the hanger 700. In one embodiment, the wishbone 720 can even be made of molded plastic. The wishbone 720 includes an opening 910 therein (shown in
It should be noted that two of the many differences associated with the embodiment shown in
In operation, the hanger 700 works in much the same way as the previously described embodiments. The offset bar 706 results in the wishbone 720 being offset from a pivot point on the hook 701 by a distance 724 and an offset distance 726 between the open jaw connector bar 754 and the hook 701. Each of these structures produces a moment about the pivot point. When the wishbone 720 is loaded with a coat, the resulting increase in clockwise moment results in the pants bar being placed in a kick out position. Loading the pants bar 755, 756 with pants increases a counter clockwise moment about the pivot point 780 so that the pants move to a position where the open jaw connector bar 754 is substantially vertical. The pants move toward the suitcoat and hang proximate one another.
The suit hanger 1100 includes a main body 1110. The main body 110 is curved. In this particular embodiment, the curved main body is in the form of a swoosh. Attached the top of the main body 1110 is a return bar 1106. The hook offset bar 1106 has one end attached to the main body 1110. A pants hanger 1150 is attached to the other end of the main body 1110 of the suit hanger 1100. The pants hanger 1150 is an open jaw type hanger and includes an open jaw connector bar 1154 and a pants hanger bar 1155 connected to the open jaw connector bar 1154. The pants hanger bar 1155 includes a sleeve 1156. In another embodiment, shown in
The hanger 1100 also includes a wishbone 1120. One of the main differences associated with this particular embodiment is that a question mark hook 1101 includes a T-bar 1160 which is rotatably attached to the wishbone 1120. The question mark hook 1101 does not directly attach to the main body 1110. A capture plate 1170 captures the T-bar 1160 within the wishbone 1120 and allows the T-bar 1160 to pivot or rotate. This arrangement lowers the pivot point of the hanger 1100 when compared to the other embodiments discussed above (shown in
These features will now be discussed with respect to
The wishbone 1120 also includes a first return support 1406. As shown in
As mentioned above, the hangers 1100 and 1500 have a separate wishbone 1120. Thus, the wishbone 1120 in these embodiments can be made of the same or a different material than the main body 1110 of the hanger 1100. In one embodiment, the wishbone 1120 can even be made of molded plastic.
The hanger 1700 includes a question mark hook 1701 and a cylindrical T-bar 1760 attached to the end of the question mark hook 1701, The question mark hook 1701 and T-bar, are similar to the embodiment shown in
The T-bar is cylindrical. The main body 1710 and wishbone 1720 rotate about the axis of the T-bar. The wishbone 1720 is offset from the cylindrical T-bar 1760 by a distance 1724. This offset can be formed at part of the wishbone 1720 or can be formed as a separate offset bar 1706. The wishbone 1720, the main body, and the pants bar 1755 all pivot around the cylindrical surface of the T-bar 1760,
When a load is placed on the wishbone 1720, a clockwise moment is increased around the axis of rotation at the T-bar 1760. This causes wishbone 1720, the main body 1710 and the pants bar 1755 to rotate clockwise to a kick out position, as shown in
In summary, the various embodiments include a multi-position hanger including a main body, a hook, a wishbone and a pants bar. The hook is attached to the main body, and the wishbone attached to the main body. The wish bone is offset from the hook in a first direction. The pants bar is attached to the main body and is also offset from the hook in a second direction. The the multi-position hanger rotates to a kick out position in response to placing a load on the wishbone. The pants bar is positioned at a first distance from the load on the wishbone in the kick out position. Tthe multi-position hanger rotates to a nested position in response to placing a load on the pants bar. The pants bar is positioned at a second distance from the load on the wishbone when in the nested position, the first distance being greater than the second distance. In one embodiment of the multi-position hanger, a pivot point is associated with the hook. In another embodiment, of the multi-position hanger thea pivot point within the wishbone. In still another embodiment of the hanger the pivot point is located below the hook.
The multi-position hanger of further includes an offset bar. The offset bar attaches the wishbone at a distance away from the pivot point to produce a moment about the pivot point in a first direction. The pants bar attached to the multi-position hanger at a distance away from the pivot point to produce a moment about the pivot point in a second direction, the first direction being opposed to the second direction. In one embodiment, the offset bar is used to provide the offset to produce one or both of these moments about the pivot point. The first distance the pants bar is from load on the wishbone when in the kick out position is increased by increasing the distance the wishbone is offset from the pivot point.
In another embodiment, the hook of the multi-position hanger is rotatably attached to the wishbone to form the pivot point within the wishbone. In this embodiment, the multi-position hanger includes a cylindrical T bar attached to the hook. The cylindrical T bar is captured within the wishbone on at least one feature that allows the T-bar to rotate about a cylindrical axis of the T bar. The cylindrical axis passes though the radial center of the two ends of the cylinder. The multi-position hanger also includes a capture plate which attaches to a portion of the wishbone to capture the T-bar. The capture plate includes another feature for receiving a main body portion to attach the main body to the wishbone. The wishbone includes a slot through which the hook passes. The slot allows the hook and T-bar to rotate with respect to the wishbone.
In one embodiment, the pants bar includes a sleeve that fits over the pants bar. The sleeve increases the radius of the pants hander bar to reduce creasing across the leg of a pair of pants. The sleeve can be formed of a smooth material or a foam material which increases the friction between the pants bar and the pants. The sleeve can be made of other materials as well.
In still another embodiment, the multi-position hanger of further includes comprising a click stop which attaches to a portion of the wishbone. The click stop holds the hanger in at least one of the kick out position or the nested position. This can be held in either position regardless of whether the hanger is loaded or unloaded. In multi-position hanger with a click stop, the hook and T-bar are rotatable between the kick out position and the nested position. The click stop allows the rotation of the hook and T-bar between the positions. The click stop also holds the hook and T bar in one of the kick out position or the nested position.
This has been a detailed description of some exemplary embodiments of the invention(s) contained within the disclosed subject matter. Such invention(s) may be referred to, individually and/or collectively, herein by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to limit the scope of this application to any single invention or inventive concept if more than one is in fact disclosed. The detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof and which shows by way of illustration, but not of limitation, some specific embodiments of the invention, including a preferred embodiment. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to understand and implement the inventive subject matter. Other embodiments may be utilized and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the inventive subject matter. Thus, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/312,559, filed Mar. 24, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference.
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Amazon.com: “Suit and Trouser/Pants Clothes Hanger With Clips”; https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00W4G40YA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1; Available at least as early as Jul. 3, 2015 (based on the first customer review on p. 6). |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20170273489 A1 | Sep 2017 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62312559 | Mar 2016 | US |