CA1067466A - Article suspension device - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A hanger for garments or other articles such as shoes having loops or web-like portions from which said articles may be suspended, included a body member equipped with a hook, the body member being generally of U-shaped configuration when folded for use and having a central web and a pair of wings. Each of the wings defines a slot opening through one end thereof and extending generally horizontally when the hanger is suspended from its hook for engaging the loops or a web-like portion of an article. The upstanding hook is formed integral with the body member to permit suspension of the hanger from a support rod or the like.

Description

7~66 This invention relates to hook-supported arrangements and more particularly to a unique hanger for garments and other articles having web-like portions.
Heretofore, various devices have been proposed and used for the display or storage of various articles .
of clothing including pants, slacks and shoes. It is fairly common practice to display or store slacks or pants by using hanger-like devices having an elongated, rigid, rod-like member to which are secured clamping elements. The clamping elements engage either the bottom of the slacks or the top of the slacks and the device permits storage or display of the article of clothing from an e~ongated support rod. An example of one such device may be found in commonly owned Canadian patent appllcation No. 176,973 to Garrlson, et al. entitled GARMENT
CLAMPING HANGER WITH SkIDABLB LOCKING CLI~ -filed on July 20, 1973~ CIamping type hangers have been found to be unacceptable for use with jeans or other clothing which is fairly stiff and slippery prlor to wear and repeated washings. The gripping portions of the clamps are unable to effectively grasp such articles and suspend them from a support.
Also, it has been fairly common practice to employ a more conventional hanger construction with ; a transversely extending pant rod. This arrangement, besides being fairly expensive for use in the storing of pants in the home or for dlsplay purposes, occasionally results in unwanted creases in the slacks or pants if they are improperly folded over the rod portion. Further, rack structures employing a plurality of spaced, parallel

-2-~ . , ~ ~7466 1 rods have been employed for display of pants or slacks at the retail sales level. Such a structure does not generally make efficient use of available floor space.
It is not an e-ffective display device. The structure is fairly large, presents difficulties in the removal and reinsertion of the garments due to interference between adjacent garments and, therefore, does not present the pants to the customer in the most advantageous manner.
Therefore, due to these inherent problems in the hangers heretofore employed, a need exists for a simple, inexpensive, easily mass produced hanger-type device capable of effectively suspending such garments and by which the problems heretofore experienced may be substantially alleviated.
Heretofore, various arrangements have also been proposed for the display of shoes to a retail sales customer or for the suspension of shoes in a storage area. Such arrangements have generally taken the form of shelves or rack structures attachable to a support surface or suspendable from an elongated support-type rod. Also, some elaborate, elongated wall shelf arrangements have been employed to display a plurality of shoes to a customer. These arrangements have been relatively expensive, bulky, and not readily rearrangeable to suit the available storage or display space. They have also made inefficient use of available space.
Therefore, a further need exists for a simple, easily mass produced and inexpensive item which would be readily adaptable for the suspension of a pair of shoes from a vertical support surface or -from an

-3-106~7~66 1 elongated support rod. Such an arran`gement would reduce the costs involved in providing for the display o shoes and the like in stores. Such reduced cost would especially be desirable in the area of large volume retailing.
SUMMARY OF THB INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a unique, easily manu~actured device is provided for display or storage of articles of clothing having belt loops or web-like portions as in the case o shoes. Essentially, a hanger-like device is provided having a body member of generally U-shaped configuration. The body member including a central web and a pair of generally spaced, parallel, depending wings positioned on each side of the central web and defining an artlcle receiving channel therebetween. An upstanding support engaging member is formed integral with or otherwise suitably attached to the body member or suspending the device from a support rod or the like. Each o the depending wings is bifurcated and, therefore, each defines a slot opening through one end thereof which extends generally parallel to the central web. The article to be displayed or stored is placed withln the article channel and the loops or web-like portions of the article are positioned within the slots. The device is moldable as a single, generally planar part and the individual portions are oldable for use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of an article suspension device in accordance with the present invention in its unfolded state;

-4-1C16'7466 1 Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along line II-II of Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along }iTle III-III of Fig. l;
Pig. 4 is a front elevational view showing the manner in which the hangcr in accordance with the present invention is employed to suspend an ~rticle of clothing which has a plurality of belt loops;
Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along line V-V of Pig. 4;
Fig. 6 is a plan view of an alternative form of an article suspension device in accordance with the present invention in its unfolded state;
Fig. 7 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view :
taken generally along the line VII-VII of Fig. 6;
Fig. 8 is an enlargcd, cross-sectional view taken generally along line VIII-VIII of Pig. 6;
Fig. 9 is a side elevational YiCW of the device~
of Fig. 6, folded for use;
Fig. l~ is a front elevational view of the device :of Fig. 9;
Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the manner by which the alternative device in accordance with the present invention may be employed to suspend a pair of shoes;
Fig. 12 is a plan view of another alternative embodiment of a suspension device in accordance with ~he present invention;
Fig. 13 is a plan view of a further alternative

-5-~0~7466 l ~m~odiment of a suspensi~n de~ice in accordance with the present in~entlon~ .
Pig~ s a bottQm, plan~ie~ of another al~ernati~e embodim~nt o th~ deric~ in acc~rda~ce with thç present inve~tion ~hich is ~imari;ly adapted ~or the ~spensi~n o~ a pair of shoes;
F~g, 15 is a ~op, plàn view.o~ the urthçr alternative`embodiment of Fig. 14;
Fig, 16 is a cross~sectional ~ie~ taken : l0 genqrally along lines XVI-XVI o Fig. 14; and Flg. 17 is a:cross-sectional vie~ taken ~enerally along li~es XV~XYII o~ Fig. 15~.
D:ETAILED DES~IPTIUN O~ TH~ PR~FERRED EMB-ODIM~NTS
One ~orm o~ an ar.ti¢le suspension device in accorda~ce with ths present in~ention is illustrated in Figs.- 1-5 and generaIlr designated 10. As best seen in Fig~ 1, the derîce 10 includes:a support engaging hook portion l2 and a body p~rtion generally designated 14.
The hook portion 12 ma~ take a variety o~ shapes and is s~o~n or illustrative purposes as including a stem portion 11 and a curved portion 13. ~n th~s ~qrm, the support hook portion 12 ha$ a generall~ I~bea~ cross secti~n tPig~ 2) includin~ a cen~ral web 16 and flanges 18, 2~. The flanges ~xtend along the lateral edges o~ the ~5 ~eb p~rt~on 16.~ Flanges 18, 20, besides ~ddin~ to the orerall artistic design o~ the supp~rt hook portion, also ~unction to rein~orce this portî~n of the d~ice, The body portion 14, as best seen in Figo 1 includes a centr~l web 24 and a pa~r of ~ing-like ~embers 26~ 28~ In the pre~erred em~dîment, the:wind~like member 26 is h~ngedl~ connected along one lateral edge ^6^

" ~L~79~6 1 to the c~ntral web 24 and the central ~eb 2~ is hingedly connact~d or joinea to th~ ~ing~like member 28 along its opposite lateral edge. ~hc pre~erre~ mannes ~or accomplishing this hinge-like c~nnection is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4. As shown therein, ~ing member 26 is hi`ngedly jo~ned to thç central web 24 by a reduced cross~s~cti~a} portion or hinge line portion 30. The ce~tral web 24 is hingedly connected to the ~lng member 28 along ~ reduced cr~ss sectioned portion or hinge line 32.
Reduced cross sectioned portions 30, 32 are easily ~ormed when ~he device is producod by conventional molding techniques. The central web 24, as will be more fully described belo~ ser~es, therefore, to space the wings and hingedl~ interc~nnect them for pi~otal movement to~ards ~nd a~a~ from each other.
~ach wing member 26~ 28 is o~ a bi~urcated cr~ ha~ing a generally ~lattened C~sh~ped co~igurat~on.
The ~ing member includes a suspe~s~on leg 34 and an upper leg 36 ioined by a b~se 38. There~ore, each ~ing ~ember 26, 28 defines a loop or web recei~ing slot 40, opening in a diroction generall~ perpe~dicular to th~ hook portion. The end of each suspensio~ leg 34 adjacent th~
o~ening of the slots 40 includes an upstand~ng or in~ardly directed tooth-like p~rtion 42. This tooth member 42 assists in ~taining the garmen~ ~ithin the slot 40 as will be ~re ~ull~ described b~low~ -With the embodiment illustrat~d i~ Figs. 1 5, the suppo~t hook 12 is formed in~egral with ~he leg 36 o~ the wing member 26. Al~o, the ~langes 18~ 20 c~n~inue p~st ~he junction of these members a~d around substantiall~ the entire p~ripherr of the wing me~ber ~7-~L(?67466 1 26. Another reinforcin~ flange 44 in like manner ex~ends around substantially the entir~ periphery of wing member 28. The integral 1anges 18, 20 and 44 increase the stiffness and rigidity of the unit. The device is therefore better able for withstanding the loads imposed upon it during use. Also, the hook 12 and wing 26 constitute, in efect, a single generally planar member.
The device l0 illustrated in Fig. l, due to ~;~ 10 its general s~ructural arrangement, may be mass produced ~as a single, flat part using conventional molding techniques and a slmple two-piece mold. Since it is preferred that ; the hinge areas 30, 32 connecting the wings 26, 28 to the ce~tral web 24 be of an integral construction, plastic materials are preferably employed in molding the device.
The material selected should have sufficient rigidity to withstand the forces imposed upon the device in use and still have sufficient flexibility to withstand repeated flexure of the hinge portions without noticeable signs of fatigue. One resinous material found to possess the desired properties to withstand repeated flexure of the hinge portions is polypropylene, such as Hercule ~ o.
5623. It is important that the material's characteristics include a resistance to elongation or stretching at the hinge lines 30 and 32 under the normally expected operating loads. The material employed may be translucent or it may be color coordinated with the particular article of clothing suspended by the device so as not to detract from the article displayed.
As best seen in Figs. 4 and S in use, the molded article 10 is folded along the hinge lines 30, 32 so that ~ 6 ~

l the wings 26, 28 extend do~nwardly ~ro~ the central web ~4 ~n a-ge~erally parallel relationship. In e~fect~ the eentral web 24 acts as a spacing mem~er positionod betw~en the ~ings of the dev~ce. The wing members and the central S web therebr define an article or garment receiving channel 5Q. ~hen so posit~onea, the de~ice lO is readily adapt- -able f~T the suspensi~ of a pair of slacks, pants or the llke 5~ whirh include a plurality of belt-receiving loops 54. The pants 52 are in$~erted wi~hin the channe} area lQ 50 and the 1QPS $4 ~n opposite side.s of the pants are placed ~ithin the slots 40 of the wing members. ~reerably, the centrally positianed loops on the pants are ~mployed or suspending the garm~nt. The upstanding portions 42 of each ~ing member restrict egress from the slots 40. As ~een ~n ~i~. 4, these portions will enga~e the belt loops and preYent inadvertent dl~placement of the lo~ps from th~ slo~$. Although illus~rated as extending longi~udinally i~ a plane gen~rally parallel ta the central ~eb 24, the slots may be tilted slightly in a generally upward direction so that the loops 54 o the pants will be ur~ed toward the closed end of t~e slot under the action o~
graYity. This ~light-tilting in conjunction with the upstanding teeth 42 wlll decrease the chanc~s of in~dYertent disengagement of the pants from the suspension ~5 device.
Th~ device illustrated in Figs. 1-5 is primarily intended for use in the display or storage of slack~. The integral hook and wing arrange~ents~ permits a plurality of such garments to ~e suspended transversely o$ a longitudinally extending support rod. This~ form of the invention could be used to suspend o~her articlos sueh 9_ ~aG 7~6 } as shoes which include an up~ardly extendi~g transverse web-lik~ portion in a ~anner to be ~ore full~ descr~bed b~low in connectio~ with Fig$. 6-11, An alternatlve ~orm of h~ pr~sent inYention i$ illus~rated in ~igs. 6~11 a~d generally designated 100.
The alte~nativ~ ~orm is similarly constructed and includes a support engaging member or hook 102 and.a body ~ember generally designat~d:10~. The body member likewise in~ludes.a e~ntral s~ace~ sec~ion or web portion 24 and a pair of:wing members 26, 28, ~s with the pre~ious embodiment, each wing mar be included at the end of each leg 34 of the wing members.
As best see~ in Pigs. 9 and 10, once the ~lternatlrs orm of the present in~ention has been m~lded, the wing members 26, 28 are ~asil~ foldable downwardly to a positi~n ~here the~ are generally parallel ~o each other.
The hovk portion 102 in a similar manner is foldable to an erected~ generally upright positlon in a plane per^
pendicular to the plane of the spacer section 24 and perpendicu,~ar to the planes of oac~ of the wing members.
As a ~e~ult, the slots 40 in:*he wing members ~pen in a rearward direc~ion adjacent the support hoo~.
. As best seen in Fig. 11, the de~ice 100 is r~adily adaptable for the display or storage o~ a pair of shoes ~rom an elongated support rod 110. As sho~n, a pair of conventio~al shoes 112 each include an upper portlon 114. The shoe uppe~ is a generally, ~hin, wall-: lik~ o~ transYerse web~like member. The area ~ ~hl~
3~ upper adjacen~ the heel portion of the shoe i5 readily inse~table within the slots 40 o~ each wing m~mher ~6, 'lLC~6~ 66 1 28. The ~ing ~embers, as with the previously described e~bodi~ent, are pivotal to~ard and ~way ~rom each other about ~he spacer s~ction to permit easy insertion of the upper.portion o~ each shoe wi~hin the slo~s.
When ~ach shoe is SQ insert~d into the slots~
~he upstand~ng tooth portion 42 ~rmed on the suspension leg 34 of the wing members will engag~ an inner peripheral surface o ~his p~tion o th~ upper. As a result, the shoe under *he action ~ gravity ~ill tend to piYot about ~he tip o$ projection 42 and, thereby, increase the rictions} contsct b~tween the sho~ and the inner peripheral surfaces oT spaced~ parallel wall areas defined by the legs 26, 28. This arrangement thereby resists sepaTation of the shoes from the wing members ~hen they lS are suspended by the device.
In the alternative, the de~ice 100 could be employed to suspend ~h~ shoes from the to~gue or throat portio~s 120 o~ the shoesO In either case, a ~ransverse web or wall~like portion of ~he shoes iS engaged by on~
o the pair o spaced, bifurc~ted wings. The web-like portion o the shoe is held bet~een the generally parallel webs and will assume a position ~enerally perp~ndicular to these webs. The ~ndividual hangers or support de~ices lOQ ~a~ then be suspen~ed along with the shoe~ in a close, - 25 spac~d relationship ~rom a common support such as ~he suppor~ rod 110.
As with the pre~iously-described pant hanger e~bodime~t, the shoe hang~r em~odiment o~ th~ present inYention is an easily and relativ~ly inexpens:lvely mass ; 3~ produced item when compared with display or storage devices heretofore employed~ Since ~he support hook 102 ~()6'746~

l extends upwardly from the spacer member 24 in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the spacer me~ber and the depending win~s when the device is folded, a plurality of different style shoes or the same style of shoes may be supported from the common support rod. 'I'his d~splay arrangement therefore reduces the amount of space required for the display of a plurality of shoes. The relationship between the hook and the wings in the embodiment designate~
100 is preferred for use as a shoe hanger since the shoes may be readily displayed or stored from a vertical support surace or wall. In this latter case, an individual dowel or stud-like member would be inserted into the wall and thereby extend outwardly therefrom. The hook portion 102 would then be placed over the stud thereby presenting lS these shoes fo~ ready viewing b~ a cus~omer. ~Iso, this shoe hanger as with the previously described pants hanger has ready applications in the storage of shoes or other articles in the home. By employing a device in accordance with the present invention, more effective utllization of available closet space may be made by the user.
Further alternative embodiments of suspension devices in accordance with the present invention are illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13. The embodiment of Fig.
12 is similar to that of Figs. 1-5 in that it includes a support hook 120 and a body member 122. The body member 122 has wing members 124, 126 hingedly joined along their lateral edges by an integral hinge line 128~. The support hook 120 is molded integral with the wing member 124 so that these portions cons~itute a single planar member. 'rhe wing members 124~ 126 define open ended slots 130 which are engageable with loops or web-like portions of the article ~C16~746~

l to be suspended. The slots are mirror i.mages of one another~
A recess 132 is centered about the wing elements and for~s an opening extending ~rom the side of each S element towards the hook and between the slots. The depth of the slot is sufficient to create an open passage or article receiving channel between ~he slots. When the device of Fig. 12 is used to hang slacks from belt loops, the depth of the recess must be at least a distance greater ~han the spacing o~ the lower wall 134 of the slots from the side of the wing elements opposite the hook.
The embodiment of Fig. 13 is similar to that of Fig. 12 except slots 130 formed in wing members 124, 126 open o~ extend towa~d each other. The slots 130 in the embodiment of Fig. 139 therefore, open into or communicate with the recess 132~
When folded, these embodiments will define a generally U-shaped article receiving channel between the wing members as with the previously described embodiments.
The wing members are pivotal towards and away from each other and, in use, the slots will extend in~a generally horizontal plane.
The preferred construction of a device in accordance with the present invention, however, would employ a spacing web and a pair of integral hinge elements as the hinge means joining the wing members. The spacer increases the article receiving channel area and thereby increases the ease with which the device may be employed~
The spacer also permits a reduction in the transverse dimension of each wing member.
Therefore, it can be seen that the unique ^13-`--`` lQ6~4~6 1 hangers in accordance with ~he presen~ invention are readily adaptable to the mass display or storage of pants and/or shoes. The device i5 relatively inexpensiYe and easily manufactured especially when compared with the more co~plex and bulky rack structures heretofore employed.
In either form, the hanger may be produced as a 1at~ one-piece part with all of the elements positioned in essentially a common plane. The wings are pivotable about the lateral edges of the central spacer so as to accommodate various size pants, shoes, shirts or any articles which are so constructed that they may be gripped by insertion in the slots of $he wing members.
A further alternative embodiment of the suspension device in accordance with the present inYention is illus-tra~ed in Figs. 14-17 of the drawings and generally desig-nated 200. The de~Jice 200 similarly includes a support engaging hook 202 and a body member 204. The body member includes a central spacer section or webbed portion 206 and a pair of wing members 208, 210. The support engaging hook 2Q2 is joined at one end of the central spacer 206 by an in~egral hinge 212. Each wing member~208, 2I0 is joined to the lateral edges of the central spacer 206 by integral hinges 214, 216 respectively.
The wing members 208, 210 differ from those of the previously described embodiments in that they in e~fect clamp and thereby frictionally retain the web portions of a pai~ uf shoes. As shown, each wi~g member i~cludes the suspension leg 218 and an upper leg 220, The legs 218, 220 are configured and of a generally hook shape so as to define a rearwardly extending generally teardrop-shaped slot 222 ~)67~66i l The upper le~ includes a straight or linear edge Z21 and ~he suspension le~ includes a compound cur~ed edge 223 The slot 2Z2 has a reduced neck area 227 dimensioned ~ess than the thickness of the web portion of a typical shoe.
S The reduced neck area opens into a divergent mouth 229.
The shape o the slot increases the ease with whicll the shoes may be engaged by each wing member.
Extending around the periphery of each wing member is an integrally molded reinforcing flange or rib 224 As shown in Figs. 14 and 16, the rib 224 may extend around the entire periphery o the wing members outwardl~
from both the upper and lower surfaces. Also, the upper legs 220 of each wing member may de~ine cutout portlons 226. Depending upon the specific material employed~ the types of shoes to be suspended and the size of the suspen-sion devic0, a reinforcing rib 230 may be provided around the entire periphery of the cutout, as shown in Figs. 15 and 17. By forming the wing members with the cutouts 226 and ribs, the amount of material required to fabricate the devices may be reduced and, therefore, substantial cost economies may be obtained.
~s with the previous embodiments, it is preferred that thl~ altcrnAt~ve device be molded rom a resinous material such as polypropylene, Th~s material is suf~i-ciently 1exlble to permit repea~ed flexing D~ the hinged portions and also results in a clamping of the web portions o~ a shoe between the leg portions 218, 220 at the neck of the ~eardrop-shaped slot 222, When the web portion o~ each shoe is slipped into the slot, the lower leg 218 will be deflected away from leg 220 to permit passage o the web portion. The resinous material is sufficiently resilient 1(~6746~i ;

1 so that the leg 218 ~ill be biased towards leg 220. In this manner the web portion will be frictionally engaged and a more secure suspension of the pair of shoes will be obtained.
S The devic~ illustrate~ in Figs. 14-17 is used in the same manner as with the alternative embodiment illus-traded in Figs. 9, 10 and 11. The wing mcmbers 208, 210 are foldable downwardly to a position where they are generàlly parallel ~o each other. The hook portion 202 is foldable to an erected, generally upright position in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the spacer section 206 and generally perpendicular to the planes of each wing member. The upper portion of each shoe iS readily insert-able within the slots 222. The wing members are pivotal toward and away from each other about the spacer section 206 to permit easy insertion of the uppor portion of each shoe within the slots. All of the previously mentioned advantages are present with this device. However, this embodimen~ also results in thc additional advantage of;more secure retainment of the web-like portions of the shoes within the slots. It lS expressly intended, therefore, that the above description should be considered as ~hat of the preferred embodime~t only. The true spirit and scope of the present invention will be determined by reference to the appended claims.

Claims (11)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

An article suspending device, comprising: a body member having a central spacer member and a pair of wing members, each wing member being hingedly connected to a lateral edge of said central spacer member for folding movement about an axis parallel with said lateral edge and each of said wing members defining a slot opening through one end thereof and extending generally parallel to said central spacer member, a support hook integral with said body member, said support hook, said central spacer member and said wing members being molded from a resin-ous material as a generally flat, one piece thin-walled article.

An article suspending device as described in claim 1 wherein said hook is integral with and extends from one of said wing members.

An article suspending device as described in claim 2 wherein the open ends of said slots extend toward the junction of said hook and said wing.

An article suspending device as described in
1. claim 1 wherein the slot in each wing is spaced the same distance from the central spacer member whereby said slots, when said wings are folded into generally parallel position are in a common plane parallel with the plane of said cen-tral spacer member.
   
   An article suspending device as described in claim 2 wherein an upstanding tooth-like portion is provided adjacent the open end of each of said slots.
   
   An article suspending device as described in
2. claim 2 wherein a reinforcing flange extends around a portion of the periphery of the wings.
3. - 7 -An article suspending device as described in claim 1 wherein said hook is integral with and extends from one end of said central spacer member; a hinge con-necting said hook and spacer member.
4. - 8 -An article suspending device as described in claim 7 wherein an upstanding tooth-like portion is pro-vided adjacent the open end of each of said slots.
5. - 9 -An article suspending device as described in claim 7 wherein a reinforcing flang extends around a portion of the periphery of said wings.
6. - 10 -An article suspending device as described in claim 7 wherein the open ends of said slots extend toward said support hook.
   
   An article suspending device as described in
7. claim 7 wherein each of said slots is generally tear-shaped having a reduced neck area.
8. An article suspending device as defined by claim 11 wherein each of said wing members includes a reinforc-ing rib extending outwardly from the surface of said. wing members and around the entire periphery of said wing members.
9. An article suspending device as defined by claim 11 wherein said reduced neck of said tear-shaped slot is dimensioned less than the thickness of the article engaged therein so that said wing is deformed and thereby friction-ally engages an article inserted in said slot.
10. An article suspending device as defined by claim
11. 11 wherein each of said wing members includes a suspension leg and an upper leg each integrally joined at one end, said upper leg including a straight edge spaced from said suspension leg and said suspension leg including a com-pound curved lateral edge facing said straight edge to thereby define a tear-shaped slot having a reduced neck opening to a divergent mouth.