Stretchable hanger

Abstract

A stretchable hanger that can be lengthened by unthreading an internal portion within each arm of the hanger to further extend each arm. An embodiment is about 18 inches long when the extensions are fully screwed in, and about 30 inches long when the extensions are fully extended, representing a ratio of about 1:1.67. Embodiments can be made smaller or larger following a similar ratio. Embodiments can be made out of plastic, metal, or wood. Embodiments consist of tubular arms with about one inch diameter. The extendable ends can be turned down with a hole in each end to accept a rod that will unscrew to hang pants or skirt.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A stretchable hanger that can be lengthened by unthreading an internal portion within each arm of the hanger to further extend each arm. An embodiment is about 18 inches long when the extensions are fully screwed in, and about 30 inches long when the extensions are fully extended, representing a ratio of about 1:1.67. Embodiments can be made smaller or larger following a similar ratio. Embodiments can be made out of plastic, metal, or wood. Embodiments consist of tubular arms with about one inch diameter.

STATEMENTS AS TO THE RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING,” A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The design of existing or normal garment hangers is primarily driven by cost, to make them as inexpensive as possible, and this often results in thin hangers that are weak. While normal hangers are typically 17 to 18 inches long at the bottom measurement of the hanger, clothing items, especially larger clothing items, can range in size considerably and have shoulder to shoulder seam sizes well over the typical 17 to 18 inches. For example, the size of a large shirt or jacket is about 21 to 22 inches from shoulder seam to shoulder seam. The size of an extra large shirt or jacket is about 23 to 24 inches from shoulder seam to shoulder seam. The size of an XX large shirt or jacket is about 25 to 26 inches from shoulder seam to shoulder seam. When a larger garment is hung on a normal hanger, with short 17 to 18 inch ends, disfiguring bumps typically form on the shoulders of the larger garment. Ironing the garment may remove the disfiguring bumps, but sometimes the disfiguring bumps cannot be removed even after ironing the garment. If the point of hanging clothing on hangers in the first place is to avoid having to iron them, current hangers are unacceptable. Such current hangers have not been changed or improved in order to eliminate the problem of disfiguring dents in the garment due to a hanger being of disproportionate size compared to the shoulder seam to shoulder seam size of the garment.

A number of modified or improved hangers have been designed to address a number of issues and shortcomings of normal hangers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,644,844, issued to Bonner, consists of a clothes hanger having a first fixed arm and a second arm that slidably extends or retracts within a receiving channel formed by the first fixed arm. The hanger taught by Bonner is designed to be retracted for easy insertion into a sweater or other garment through the neck opening. Such hangers are also exceedingly flimsy when extended, so much so that the extended arms can snap off from the fixed arm when any pressure is applied to an end. The lack of sturdiness in the design is an issue with respect to many other hangers that have been developed.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,641,084, issued to Alcaraz, teaches an adjustable clothes hanger, with a dial used to slidably and linearly displace the first and second arms along their respective linear paths. The hanger further includes a first and a second hook used to keep the first and second arms from traveling beyond a certain point. U.S. Pat. No. 7,258,258, issued to Schweizer, teaches a clothes hanger with arms consisting of bottle-shaped containers. The hook of the hanger preferably has a thread for each bottle-shaped arm, and the arms are attached to the hook with the threads. U.S. Pat. No. 6,964,360, issued to Tubman et al., teaches a clothes hanger consisting of a first arm and a second arm, with each arm forming an adjustment element and a primary track. The hanger can be adjusted by sliding each arm along its corresponding primary track.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,811,064, issued to Salem, teaches an adjustable hanger, where the legs and the leg extensions of the hanger have inverted U-shaped cross-sections and are telescopically engaged. U.S. Pat. No. 6,409,058, issued to Lam et al., teaches an adjustable hanger with moveable arms which move laterally from the middle of the hanger. The moveable arms move as a result of engagement between a pair of linkage tongues and an adjustment mechanism positioned on the middle of the hanger. Other examples at improving clothes hanger include U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,634, issued to Kelroy; U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,652, issued to Dooling-Sherman; U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,385, issued to See; U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,445, issued to Nakamoto; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,429, issued to Koons.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the stretchable hanger with the extensions closed;

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the stretchable hanger with the extensions partially unthreaded;

FIG. 3 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the stretchable hanger; and

FIG. 4A illustrates an embodiment of the stretchable hanger with a heavy wire attachment, such as a pant or skirt hanger; and

FIG. 4B illustrates an embodiment of an open ring used for the ends of the heavy wire attachment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A stretchable hanger that can be lengthened by unthreading an internal portion within each arm of the hanger to further extend each arm. An embodiment is about 18 inches long when the extensions are fully screwed in (retracted length), and about 30 inches long when the extensions are fully extended (extended length), representing a ratio of about 1:1.67. Embodiments can be made smaller or larger following a similar ratio. Embodiments can be made out of plastic, metal, or wood. Embodiments are tubular with an approximately one-inch diameter.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the stretchable hanger 100. The hanger 100 consists of a hook 102 for hanging the hanger 100 on a bar or dowel within a closet. The hook 102 is centered and mounted within a central body or support member 103. A first arm 104 and a second arm 106 extend from the central body 103. A first end 108 of the first arm 104 and a second end 110 of the second arm 106 can be extended by unthreading. The first arm 104 can be extended by unthreading the first end 108 clockwise, or counter clockwise, and retracted by threading the first end 108 in the reverse direction. The ends can be extended and retracted independently. For example, the first arm may be extended, while leaving the second arm in its normal, retracted form.

In contrast to other improvements to hangers noted above, each of the arms 104 and 106 have a hollow interior surface with a threaded region that matches with threading on the exterior surface of the interior portion of each arm. The interior portion of each arm can be extended by unthreading. The threaded arrangement between each arm and each interior portion, in contrast to telescoping notches or arms sliding along a track, allows for the arms of the hanger to be expended to a length of about 166% of the regular length without compromising the structural integrity of the hanger. In addition, the structural integrity of the hanger is maintained by the thickness of the various parts of the hanger, and by the fact that there is a snug fit between the arms and the internal portions, such that there is little wobble and give between the internal portions and the arms when the internal portions are extended.

The hook 102 can be a standard wire hook. It can be made out of plastic, metal, or wood. The diameter of the hook 102 may vary. For example, an embodiment may use a hook with a diameter of between about 0.1 inches to about 0.5 inches, but be made of metal in order to be able to sustain a large weight. Alternatively, the diameter of the hook may be made about 0.5 inches to about 1 inch, but be made of a lighter material such as plastic or wood.

An embodiment of the hanger 100 may include the central body 103 that is attached to and joins the first arm 104 and the second arm 106, but alternative embodiments may not include the central body 103, with the first arm 104 and the second arm 106 directly connected to each other at a central attachment point. The arms of the hanger extend outward and linearly from the central body 103 or attachment point and slope downward at an angle of between about 10 and 35 degrees. Alternative embodiments may use hangers with different slope downward angles for the arms. The arms of the hanger can be made out of tubular plastic, metal, or wood. The arms can be about 0.5 inch in diameter, but larger and smaller diameter alternatives are also possible. The arms, or portions of the arms, can be coated with a non-slip coating, or have their surface treated in a fashion so as to make the surface non-slip without a coating.

An embodiment includes a number of female threads on the interior surface of each arm 104 and 106 at the ends 108 and 110, respectively (shown in FIG. 3 and more fully described below), that engage the male threaded extensions or ends of the extensions or internal portions 112 and 114, respectively, which are more fully illustrated in FIG. 2. This nature of the threading may also be reversed, with the ends of the hanger having male threads engaging with the female threads of the internal portions. The extended internal portions can be made out of plastic, metal, wood, or some other material. The extended internal portions may be about one-inch in diameter and have unthreaded portions with or without a non-slip coating. The edges of the extended internal portions can also be made rounded or flat to avoid damage to clothing items.

In an embodiment, the extended internal portions can be approximately nine inches long. However, alternative embodiments may use longer or shorter extensions. In a normal hanger with a length of approximately 18 inches, an extended internal portion of nine inches would allow the hanger to stretch up to about 160% without comprising structural integrity. This represents a ratio between the fully contracted hanger and the fully extended hanger of about 1:1.67, which is preferred, but other ratios in the range of about 1:1.3 to about 1:1.67 are possible. Embodiments can be made smaller or larger following similar ratios, such that, for example, a hanger could be made for a child that allowed the child to grow by as much as about 167% before larger hangers were required. Even though the extended internal portions in the 18:30 inch embodiment may be approximately nine inches long, a portion of them would likely remain threaded in the arms in order to retain the structural integrity of the hanger 100. For example, it has been found that leaving one inch threaded inside of the arms of the hanger yields a strong hanger, while maintaining the original angle of the hanger. Similar designs would be used for other sized hangers.

FIG. 2 illustrates the stretchable hanger 100 with the extended internal portions 112 and 114 partially extended. The threads of the extended internal portions use square or flat threads. Square threads have the advantage of not marking garment being hung when the hanger is extended. Other types of threads may also be used, such as acme threads and buttress threads. However, these types of threads may mark or damage the garment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the stretchable hanger 100. In FIG. 3 the extended internal portions 112 and 114 are closed. Each of the extended internal portions includes a stop near the top of the extension which is not threaded. For extended internal portion 112, the stop 118 prevents the threaded extended internal portion 112 from unthreading from the first arm 104. The threaded extended internal portions fit inside a hollow or cavity formed within the arms of the hanger. However, only a portion of the cavity of the arms is threaded, specifically only the portion of the arms near the ends of the hanger is threaded.

Alternative embodiments may have different portions or multiple portions of the arms threaded. The cavities of the first arm 104 and the second arm 106 may include additional threaded sections that engage with additional threaded portions of the extended internal portions 112 and 114. For example, the cavities of the arms 104 and 106 may include additional threaded sections near the middle of the arms 104 and 106 engaging with additional threaded portions of the extended internal portions 112 and 114 near the middle of the arms 104 and 106.

In FIG. 3, sections 122 and 124 illustrate the threaded sections of the cavity of the first arm 104 and the second arm 106. The rest of the cavity formed by the arms 104 and 106 would be smooth. By only having the sections 122 and 124 threaded, it allows for the extended internal portions 112 and 114 to be unthreaded up to the point where the stops 118 and 120 come in contact with threaded sections 122 and 124. Since the stops 118 and 120 would be smooth, rather than threaded, it would prevent the unthreading of the extensions. The threaded sections 122 and 124 are approximately one and a half inch long, but alternative dimensions are also possible. The tight fit provided by the dimensions of these parts allows for the hanger to retain its structural integrity even when the extensions are fully extended.

In an embodiment, the threaded sections 122 and 124 are cut into the walls of the cavity formed within the arms 104 and 106. In an embodiment, the diameter of the cavity formed within the arms 104 and 106 is larger than the diameter of the threaded sections 122 and 124, such that the threaded sections can be manufactured separate from the arms and inserted into the arms, where they can be glued, welded or otherwise affixed in place.

In an embodiment, the stops can be tubular, approximately one inch in diameter by one-inch long. However, the length of the stops can vary. For example, if the hanger is intended to be used for heavy garments, the stops can be made larger than approximately one inch in order to allow the hanger 100 to retain its structural integrity. On the other hand, if the hanger was intended for light weight garments, the stops can be made slightly smaller than approximately one inch. The stops can also be made non-slip, such as by adding a non-slip coating, to ensure that the extended internal portions were not pulled out completely if a user were to accidentally pull the extended internal portions, or if the user were to continue to attempt to unthread the extended internal portions after the stop had reached the threaded section of the hanger arm. In an embodiment, there may be no stops and it is possible for a user to completely unthread the extended internal portions from each arm. In embodiments where no stops are used, the entire cavity of the arms can be threaded in order to increase the structural integrity of the hanger.

The male and female threads of the extended internal portions and the threaded sections of the hanger arms are made large so as to make the adjustment of the hanger quick and easy. With the use of large threads, a user can extend the hanger with a handful of turns. The threads can also be made smaller. However, this would result in the user having to spend more energy and time unthreading and threading the extended internal portions when the hanger needed to be adjusted.

Embodiments of the stretchable hanger can be manufactured by building the two primary pieces of the hanger, the front side and the back side. The partial cross-sectional view of the hanger 100 in FIG. 3 illustrates the hanger with the front side of the hanger having been removed. In an embodiment, the front side would have male hooks snapping into the female grooves on the back side of the hanger. These may also be reversed, with the front side having female grooves snapping into the hooks of the back side. Other means for attaching the two sides are also possible, such as posts and pins, welding (if metal), gluing, co-extruding (such that both sides are made at once), molding (also with both sides made a once), etc. The two sides would have a small opening on the top for the hook. Other means of manufacturing are also possible, as noted above, such as having a single tubular piece that is substantially V-shaped, with the tubular piece being hollow to allow for the extensions to be added.

An embodiment includes a heavy wire attachment used as a pant or skirt hanger, or for other purposes. The heavy wire attachment can be made of heavy wire to prevent the wire from sagging under heavy weight, and could be combined with a piece of wood or other material, where the pant or skirt lays over the material piece and is held in place by the wire. Alternatively, a lighter material, such as plastic, but with a larger diameter may also be used. The heavy wire attachment is attached to the base of the hanger so the heavy wire attachment does not interfere with the adjustment of the hanger. Another alternative would be turning the extending ends of the extensions down with a hole in each end. This would allow an extendable rod to be placed in the holes and extend or unscrew with the arms to lay pants or a skirt over the extendable rod.

An embodiment of the stretchable hanger can include sections of the arms of the hanger, near the ends 108 and 110 of the hanger, which have a substantially smaller outer diameter than the outer diameter of the arms. These sections are locking sections that enable the heavy wire attachment to be attached to the hanger. FIG. 3 identifies the locking sections 126, but the figure does not show these sections having a substantially smaller outer diameter. The locking sections can preferably have an outer diameter about a quarter of an inch smaller than the outer diameter of the hanger arms 104 and 106. For example, the outer diameter of the hanger arms 104 and 106 can be one inch. Thus, the locking sections can have a diameter that is three quarters of an inch, forming a step where hanger arms 104 and 106 meet the locking sections 126.

The locking sections 126 can be cut into the hanger arms 104 and 106 by either cutting or machining the locking sections 126 to have a slightly smaller outer diameter than the outer diameter of the hanger arms 104 and 106. Alternatively, locking sections 126 can be machined independently of the hanger arms 104 and 106, with the locking sections 126 then attached to the hanger arms 104 and 106 where the arms 104 and 106 meet the ends 108 and 110.

The point where the locking sections 126 meet the arms 104 and 106 does not have to be step-like. The specific shape of the locking sections can vary, but it is important for the locking sections 126 to form a projection or nipple where the heavy wire attachment can securely engage the arms 104 and 106 of the hanger.

In yet another embodiment, the locking sections can consist of a groove or trough machined or cut around the outer circumference of the arms 104 and 106 near the ends 108 and 110. The width of the groove or trough can be machined or cut so that the heavy wire attachment engages the locking sections in a snug fit.

FIG. 4A illustrates the stretchable hanger 100 with the heavy wire attachment 128. The wire attachment 128 attaches to the locking sections 126. The ends 108 and 110 can be removed from the corresponding extended internal portions 112 and 114 by unthreading. Once the ends 108 and 110 had been unthreaded and removed, a user would attach the wire attachment 128 to the locking sections 126. The locking part of the heavy wire attachment that engages the locking sections 126 can consist of a ring (not shown in FIG. 4 because of the perspective). The ring would preferably fit snugly on the locking sections 126. For example, the ring may be flexible yet sturdy enough to allow a user to extend the ring before placing it in the locking sections 126, with the ring returning to its original size once the user had placed it over the locking sections 126. A locking clip may also be used to secure the heavy wire attachment to the hanger 100. The locking clip may engage both the wire rings and the locking sections 126 to ensure that the wire attachment does not slip, fall off, or spin once a heavy garment is hung. As previously discussed, the heavy wire attachment 128 may be enclosed by a tubular plastic, or an alternative material, in order to protect the garment being hung.

Embodiments of the heavy wire consist of a single piece, with the two ends of the heavy wire shaped into wire rings. The rings can have an outer diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of hanger arms 104 and 106 and the ends 108 and 110, allowing for the rings to slide, over the ends 108 and 110 and arms 104 and 106, into the locking sections. An alternative embodiment can consist of flexible rings with an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameters of the ends 108 and 110 and the arms 104 and 106, but with the outer diameter of the rings increasing by manually stretching the rings. FIG. 4B illustrates an embodiment of an open ring used to secure the heavy wire attachment at the locking sections 126.

Embodiments of the heavy wire attachment are not limited to a wire consisting of a single piece. For example, the heavy wire attachment can consist of at least a base and two rings attached to the ends of the base.

The heavy wire attachment can be covered with a tube about 0.75 inches in diameter to protect the clothing being hung from the heavy wire attachment. The wire protector can be made out of plastic, metal, wood, or some other material. The wire protector can also be coated with a non-slip coating, to prevent garments from slipping off the heavy wire attachment. The wire protector prevents hanger marks from forming on the garments being hung.

An embodiment of the wire protector is tubular with a trough formed along the bottom of the wire protector. The wire protector can be attached to the heavy wire attachment by pushing the trough of the wire protector against the base of the heavy wire attachment. Preferably the wire protector is attached to the heavy wire attachment so that the trough is oriented down and the trough does not come in contact with the garment being hung. The trough of the wire protector can be machined or cut to have a wide opening followed by a narrow section or neck, with the heavy wire snapping into place by being pushed past the narrow section or the neck. Alternatively, the trough can include one or more locking clips, such as spring biased clips, allowing the wire protector to engage the heavy wire attachment by being pushed past the one or more locking clips. Other means for engaging and securing the wire protector to the heavy wire attachment are also possible.

In an embodiment, the wire protector consists of two parts with matching ends. Each of the two parts can be a semi cylinder, with the edges along the length of the top semi cylinder matching and engaging the edges along the length of the bottom semi cylinder. For example, the top semi cylinder can have male hooks snapping into the female grooves of the bottom semi cylinder, or vice versa.

In an embodiment, the tubular wire protector includes a groove along the right base of the wire protector, the left base of the wire protector, or both the right and left bases of the cylindrical wire protector. The groove along the base of the wire protector engages one of the vertically oriented sides 130 of the heavy wire attachment 128. If the wire protector includes grooves on both the right base and the left base of the cylindrical wire protector, then the left groove engages the left vertically oriented side of the heavy wire attachment 128, and the right groove engages the right vertically oriented side of the heavy wire attachment 128. These base grooves prevent the wire protector from spinning in place when a garment is hung on the heavy wire attachment 128. The angle at which the base grooves are cut or machined may depend on the respective angle of the vertically oriented sides 130 of the heavy wire attachment 128. For example, if the vertically oriented sides 130 are oriented at a 90 degree angle from the base of the heavy wire attachment 128 (as illustrated in FIG. 4A), then the base grooves would be cut also at a 90 degree angle. Similarly, if the vertically oriented sides 130 were oriented at a 45 degree angle from the base of the heavy wire attachment 128, then base grooves would be cut at a 45 degree angle to match and engage the vertically oriented sides 130.

While the present invention has been illustrated and described herein in terms of a preferred embodiment and several alternatives, it is to be understood that the techniques described herein can have a multitude of additional uses and applications. Accordingly, the invention should not be limited to just the particular description and various drawing figures contained in this specification that merely illustrate a preferred embodiment and application of the principles of the invention.

Claims

1. A stretchable hanger comprising: a central body including a first arm having a first end and a first interior wall forming a first cavity from the first end into the first arm and a second arm having a second end and a second interior wall forming a second cavity from the second end into the second arm, the first arm and the second arm extending linearly and outwardly from the central body, the first interior wall having a first threaded section near the first end, the second interior wall having a second threaded section near the second end;a hook attached to the central body;a first extended internal portion positioned within the first cavity, the first extended internal portion having a first threaded portion and a first unthreaded portion, the first threaded portion engaging with the first threaded section; anda second extended internal portion positioned within the second cavity, the second extended internal portion having a second threaded portion and a second unthreaded portion, the second threaded portion engaging with the second threaded section.

2. The stretchable hanger as recited in claim 1, wherein the first threaded section, the second threaded section, the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion consist of square threads.

3. The stretchable hanger as recited in claim 1, wherein a ratio between a length of the stretchable hanger with the first extended internal portion and the second extended internal portion retracted and a length of the stretchable hanger with the first extended internal portion and the second extended internal portion fully extended is about 1 to 1.67.

4. The stretchable hanger as recited in claim 1, wherein the first unthreaded portion includes a first surface and the second unthreaded portion includes a second surface, wherein the first surface and the second surface are a non-slip surface.

5. The stretchable hanger as recited in claim 1, wherein the first arm forms a first projection near the first end, the first projection having a first outer diameter substantially smaller than a first outer diameter of the first arm, wherein the second arm forms a second projection near the second end, the second projection having a second outer diameter substantially smaller than a second outer diameter of the second arm, further comprising a heavy wire attachment attaching to the stretchable hanger and including a wire base, a first wire end, and a second wire end, the first wire end engaging the first projection and the second wire end engaging the second projection.

6. The stretchable hanger as recited in claim 5, wherein the first wire end forms a first ring and the second wire forms a second ring, wherein the first projection includes a first groove forming a first space fitting the first ring, wherein the second projection includes a second groove forming a second space fitting the second ring.

7. The stretchable hanger as recited in claim 1, wherein the first arm includes a first surface and the second arm includes a second surface, wherein the first surface and the second surface are a non-slip surface.

8. The stretchable hanger as recited in claim 1, wherein the first arm is operable to be extended independently from the second arm.

9. The stretchable hanger as recited in claim 1, the first interior wall further including an additional first threaded section engaging with an additional first threaded portion of the first extended internal portion, the second interior wall further including an additional second threaded section engaging with an additional second threaded portion of the second extended internal portion.

10. A stretchable hanger comprising: a central body including a first arm and a second arm, the first arm including a first end and extending linearly and outwardly from the central body, the first arm having a first wall forming a first cavity starting at the first end and extending into the first arm, the first wall having a first threaded portion, the second arm including a second end and extending linearly and outwardly from the central body, the second arm having a second wall forming a second cavity starting at the second end and extending into the second arm, the second wall having a second threaded portion;a hook attached to the central body;a first extension positioned within the first cavity and having a first set of threads engaging with the first threaded portion; anda second extension positioned within the second cavity and having a second set of threads engaging with the second threaded portion.

11. The stretchable hanger as recited in claim 10, wherein the first threaded portion, the second threaded portion, the first set of threads and the second set of threads consist of square threads.

12. The stretchable hanger as recited in claim 10, wherein a ratio between a retracted length of the stretchable hanger with the first extension and the second extension retracted and an extended length of the stretchable hanger with the first extension and the second extension fully extended is about 1 to 1.67.

13. The stretchable hanger as recited in claim 10, the first wall further having an additional first threaded portion engaging with an additional first set of threads of the first extension, the second wall further having an additional second threaded portion engaging with an additional second set of threads of the second extension.

14. The stretchable hanger as recited in claim 10, wherein the first end includes a first surface and the second end includes a second surface, wherein the first surface and the second surface are a non-slip surface.

15. The stretchable hanger as recited in claim 10, wherein the first arm is operable to be extended independently from the second arm.

16. The stretchable hanger as recited in claim 10, wherein the first arm forms a first projection near the first end, the first projection having a first outer diameter substantially smaller than a first outer diameter of the first arm, wherein the second arm forms a second projection near the second end, the second projection having a second outer diameter substantially smaller than a second outer diameter of the second arm, further comprising a heavy wire attachment attaching to the stretchable hanger and including a wire base, a first wire end, and a second wire end, the first wire end engaging the first projection and the second wire end engaging the second projection.

17. The stretchable hanger as recited in claim 16, wherein the first wire end forms a first ring and the second wire forms a second ring.

18. The stretchable hanger as recited in claim 17, wherein the first projection includes a first groove forming a first space fitting the first ring, wherein the second projection includes a second groove forming a second space fitting the second ring.

19. The stretchable hanger as recited in claim 16, further comprising a substantially tubular wire protector encasing the heavy wire attachment, the wire protector including a trough on a bottom side of the wire protector and operative to engage the base of the heavy wire attachment.

20. The stretchable hanger as recited in claim 19, wherein the wire protector includes a first base groove formed along a first base of the wire protector and a second base groove formed along a second base of the wire protector, the first base groove operative to engage a first vertically oriented side of the heavy wire attachment, the second base operative to engage a second vertically oriented side of the heavy wire attachment.