I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scented clothes hanger assembly.
II. Description of Related Art
Many different types of clothing are positioned on clothes hangers which are then hung within a closet or similar structure for storage. Such storage facilities for clothes hangers with their attached clothes, however, are frequently subjected to unpleasant smells. Such unpleasant smells may result from mold or other objects within the closet or clothes storage facility. Furthermore, this odor is oftentimes retained by the clothing within the clothes storage facility thus necessitating that the clothes be washed prior to wearing the clothes.
Similarly, in some situations insects, such as moths, enter into the clothes storage facility or closet. When this occurs, the insects can damage the clothing.
In order to overcome these problems with clothes storage, and particularly long-term clothes storage, there have been a number of previously known scented clothes hangers. These previously known scented clothes hangers may emit a pleasant odor which is retained by the clothing. Alternatively, the scented clothes hangers may emit aromas, such as the scent of cedar, which repels many types of insects known to damage clothing.
These previously known scented hangers, however, have not proven wholly satisfactory in use. One disadvantage of the previously known scented clothes hangers is that it has been difficult, if not altogether impossible, to replenish the scent on the hanger. As such, once the scent on the hanger is depleted, the scented hanger no longer serves its purpose of imparting a pleasant aroma to the clothing and/or repelling insects.
The present invention provides a scented hanger which overcomes the disadvantages of the previously known scented hangers.
In brief, the scented hanger assembly of the present invention comprises a clothes hanger having a mounting ring attached to the clothes hanger. Preferably, the mounting ring is attached near a central portion of the clothes hanger and near the top of the clothes hanger.
A scent cartridge has a base which defines a cavity. A scented material, such as a scented gel, is disposed within the cavity and emits not only a pleasant aroma but optionally an aroma designed to repel insects.
The base also includes a recess complementary in shape to the mounting ring. The recess is dimensioned so that, with the recess aligned with and pressed onto the mounting ring, the base frictionally engages the mounting ring in order to attach the scent cartridge to the mounting ring and thus to the clothes hanger.
Whenever the scent from the scent cartridge has been depleted, the scent cartridge is easily removed from the mounting ring by simply pulling the base off from the mounting ring. Thereafter, a new scent cartridge having fresh scented material may be manually snapped onto the mounting ring thus protecting the clothes as desired.
A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:
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The recess 32, furthermore, includes a small negative draft 34, illustrated as ten degrees in
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After the scented material 26 in the scent cartridge 14 has been depleted, the now empty scent cartridge 14 is easily removed from the mounting ring 20 and thereafter replaced with a scent cartridge 14 having new scented material 26. Consequently, the entire hanger assembly 10 may be continuously maintained in a scented or aromatic condition by simply replacing the scent cartridges 14 as required.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention provides a scented hanger assembly in which the scent may be easily manually renewed whenever desired and without the need for tools. Having described our invention, however, many modifications thereto will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains without deviation from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.