CA2343869A1 - Garment hanger - Google Patents

Abstract

A garment hanger has a spring urging a pair of clamp arms from first positions, in which the clamp arms are spaced apart from one another, towards second positions, in which the clamp arms are adjacent one another, and a retainer operable to readily releasibly retain the clamp arms in the first position. First and second suspension arms extend upwardly from the clamp arms, the spring acting between the suspension arms and the retainer being a catch on one suspension arm, the catch being releasibly engageable with the other suspension arm.

Description

219PSCA(C) GARMENT HANGER
The present invention relates to a garment hanger and, more particularly, to a garment hanger of a type comprising a spring for urging a pair of clamp arms toward one another.
In United States Patent 1,102,545, issued July 7, 1914, there is disclosed a trousers hanger comprising a carrying member made of a spring metal wire forming a coil from which two resilient stems extend to arms which end in oblong square spring loops. In use, these loops extend over the ends of trousers legs, when clamped upon a pair of trousers.
The loops are provided with wooden jaws for engaging the trousers.
Another garment hanger comprising a spring formed by coiled wire and having clamping jaws is shown in Canadian Patent 2,211,311, issued November 17, 1998.
In these prior trousers hangers, no provision is made for releasibly securing the spring loops and their jaws apart from one another while the ends of the trousers are inserted between them.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved garment hanger.
According to the present invention, there is provided a garment hanger which has a spring urging a pair of clamp arms from first positions, in which the clamp arms are spaced apart from one another, towards second positions, in which the clamp arms are adjacent one another, and a retainer operable to readily releasibly retain the clamp arms in the first position.

-2-In one embodiment of the invention, the garment hanger includes first and second suspension arms extending upwardly from the clamp arms, the spring acting between the suspension arms and the retainer being a catch on a first one of the suspension arms, the catch being releasibly engageable with the second suspension arm.
In another embodiment of the invention, the retainer comprises a slide member between the clamp arms, the slide member being in wedging contact with projections on the arms.
The invention will be more readily understood from the following description of embodiments thereof given, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figures 1 and 2 show views taken in perspective from opposite sides of a garment hanger embodying the present invention;
Figures 3 and 4 show views in side elevation, from opposite sides, respectively, of the garment hanger of Figures 1 and 2;
Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 show views taken in vertical cross-section through the garment hanger of Figures 1 to 4 and illustrating the operation of a retainer during movement of clamp arms of the hanger between first and second positions;
Figure 9 shows a view in perspective of a garment hanger according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 10 shows a view in front elevation of the garment hanger of Figure 9;
Figure 11 shows a view in end elevation of the garment hanger of Figure 9 in a closed position;

-3-Figure 12 shows a view corresponding to that of Figure 11 but with the garment hanger in an open position;
Figure 13 shows a plan view from beneath of the garment hanger of Figure 9 in a closed position;
Figure 14 shows a view corresponding to that of Figure 13, but showing the garment hanger in an open position;
Figure 15 shows a view taken in vertical cross-section along the line 15-15 of Figure 10 and showing the hanger in an open position;
Figure 16 shows a view in cross-section corresponding to that of Figure 15, but with the hanger in a closed position;
Figure 17 shows a broken-away view, in cross-section, through parts of the hanger of Figure 1;
Figure 18 shows a broken-away view in perspective of parts of the hanger of Figure 1;
Figures 19 and 20 show broken-away views in horizontal cross-section of parts of the hanger of Figure 1 in an unassembled condition and an assembled condition, respectively;
Figure 21 shows a view in perspective of a garment hanger according to a third embodiment of the present invention in a closed condition;
Figure 22 shows a view in perspective of the hanger of Figure 21 in an open condition;
Figure 23 shows an exploded view of components of the hanger of Figure 21 and 22;

-4-Figure 24 shows a broken-away view in perspective of parts of the hanger of Figures 21 and 22;
Figure 25 shows a view in side elevation of a slide member forming part of the hanger of Figures 21 and 22;
Figure 26 shows a view taken in horizontal section along the line 26-26 of Figure 25;
Figure 27 shows a view in end elevation of the slide member of Figure 25;
Figure 28 shows a broken-away view, in perspective, of parts of one of the clamp arms of the hanger of Figures 21 and 22;
Figure 29 shows a view similar to Figure 8 but with the addition of the slide member of Figures 25 to 27;
Figure 30 shows a view in side elevation of a modification of the slide member of Figures to 27;
20 Figure 31 shows a view taken in horizontal cross-section along the line 31-31 of Figure 30;
and Figure 32 shows a view taken in end elevation of the slide member of Figure 30.
25 The garment hanger shown in the drawings and indicated generally by reference numeral 10 has two clamp arms or jaws 12 and 14, which are formed in one piece with respective first and second suspension arms indicated generally by reference numerals 16 and 18, respectively.

- 5 -More particularly, the first suspension arm 16 and the clamp arm 12 are formed in one piece as a moulding of plastic material and the second suspension arm 18 and the clamp arm 14 are also formed in one piece as a plastic moulding.
The suspension arm 18 has a lower portion, indicated generally by reference numeral 20, which is bifurcated so as to form a pair of spaced horizontally extending portions 22, and a pair of spaced vertically extending portions 24, which extend to the clamp arm 14. The portions 22 and 24 form therebetween an opening 26.
The lower portion 21 of the suspension arm 16 extends through the opening 26 and comprises a horizontally extending portion 28 and a vertically extending portion 30, which merges with the clamp arm 12.
The garment hanger 10 also includes a spring, indicated generally by reference numeral 32, which urges the suspension arms 16 and 18 away from one another and, thereby, urges the clamp arms 12 and 14 towards one another.
More particularly, the spring 32 is formed of a strip of steel and includes a pair of spring arms 34 and 36, which are connected to the suspension arms 16 and 18, respectively, and an arcuate intermediate spring portion 38 between the spring arms 34 and 36. The arcuate intermediate spring portion 38 is formed with an opening in the form of a slot 40 extending along the intermediate spring portion 38, and the slot 40 includes a widening in the form of a widened slot portion 42 at each end of the slot 40.
A suspension hook, indicated generally by reference numeral 44, has a lower portion 46 which terminates in a widened lower end 48 in the form of a ball. The widened lower end 48 can be passed through either of the openings 42 to engage the hook 44 with the spring 38 or, alternatively, to remove the suspension hook 44 from the garment hanger 10.

-6-The spring arms 34 and 36 are retained relative to the suspension arm 16 and 18 by bridge portions 50 and 52 of the suspension arms 16 and 18, extending between opposite sides of the suspension arms 16 and 18, respectively, and by further formations on the spring arms 16 and 18.
As shown in Figures 5 to 8, the suspension arm 18 is formed with a laterally projecting, resiliently deflectable tongue 56, which has a free end 58 projecting through an opening 60 in the suspension arm 16. The tongue 56 is formed, at its underside, with a projection 62 forming a catch, which is engageable, with one edge of the slot 60 as illustrated in Figure 7.
More particularly, the spring 44 tends to urge the clamp arms 12 and 14 , for clamping the article of clothing between them, from first positions, in which the clamp arms 12 and 14 are shown in Figure 6 and are spaced apart from one another to allow insertion of an article of clothing (not shown) between them, towards second positions in which the clamp arms 12 and 14 are adjacent one another. In Figures 5 and 8, the clamp arms 12 and 14 are shown adjacent one another, in the second, fully closed positions, with nothing between them.
As the clamp arms 12 and 14 move apart from one another, under the action of the springs 4, from the closed positions in which they are shown in Figure 5, the tongue 56 passes through the opening 60, as shown in Figure 6, until eventually the catch 62 passes beyond the opening 60, as shown in Figure 7, and can be engaged with the edge of the opening 60 by the resilience of the tongue 56 and/or by pushing the tongue downwardly.
To release the clamp arms 12 and 14 for movement towards one another, the suspension arms 16 and 18 can be manually squeezed towards one another if the resilience of the tongue 56 tends to raise the catch 62 out of engagement with the edge of the slot 60.
Alternatively, if the resilience of the tongue 56 urges the tongue 56 downwardly, then the tongue 56 may be readily deflected upwardly, by an upward manual pressure on the free end of the tongue, ._. ~.,....w_w.,....~ ~ ~ ~ _._.. . _.~.M~~M.~.-"~ ,~~.......4~"~,.,~",_..
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_ 7 to release the catch 62. The spring 44 is then able to displace the clamp arms 12 and 14 towards one another.
The opposed sides of the clamp arms 12 and 14 are formed with laterally projecting flanges 64 and 66 which serve to reinforce the clamp arms 12 and 14 and to facilitate gripping of clothing by the clamp arms 12 and 14. The outer edges of the flanges 64 of the clamp arm 12 are convexly curved, while those of the flanges 66 are complimentarily curved, to further facilitate the gripping of clothing.
In Figure 9, reference numeral 100 indicates generally a garment hanger according to a second embodiment of the invention. The garment hanger 100 has two clamp arms or jaws 102 and 104, which are molded in one piece with lower ends 106 and 108 of suspension arms 110 and 112. The suspension arms 110 and 112 and their lower ends 106 and 1 OS
are of U-shaped cross-section.
The suspension arms 110 and 112 have upper ends 114 and 116 which are pivotally interconnected, as described in greater detail below, so that the arms 110 and 112 are pivotable to and fro, relative to one another, between first positions, in which they are shown in Figure 12 and in which the clamp arms 102 and 104 are spaced apart from one another, and second positions, in which they are shown in Figure 1 l and in which the clamp arms 102 and 104 are adjacent one another.
The lower portion 106 of the suspension arm 110 is bifurcated and projects laterally and downwardly from the suspension arm 110 to the clamp arm 102.
The lower portion 108 of the clamp arm 112 extends downwardly and laterally from the suspension arm 112 between opposite sides of bifurcated the lower portion 106 of the suspension arm 110 to the clamp arm 104.

- g -The suspension arms 110 and 112 are urged apart from one another by means of a helical compression spring 120, which has opposite ends acting on the suspension arms 110 and 112. As shown in Figure 16, the helical compression spring 120 has its opposite ends engaged around cylindrical inner projections 122 on the suspension arms 110 and 112.
The suspension arm 110 is formed with a catch in the form of a flexible tongue 124, which proj ects laterally from the suspension arm 110 through an opening 126 in the suspension arm 112, as shown in Figure 15, when the hanger 100 is open. The underside of the tongue 124 is formed with a projection 126, which engages with an edge 128 on the lower portion 106 of the suspension arm 112 for releasibly retaining the clamp arms 102 and 104 in their first or open positions, in which they are shown in Figure 15.
The tongue 124 has a free end 130, which extends beyond the projection 126 and which is manually engageable, by a user's fingertip, to release the projection 126 from the edge 128 and, thereby, to release the clamp arms 102 and 104 for movement towards one another, under the action of the helical spring 120, into the second or closed positions, in which they are shown in Figure 11.
A suspension hook 132 projecting upwardly from the upper ends of the suspension arms 110 and 112 has a lower end 134 formed as a disk-shaped portion, on which there is provided a washer 136. From the washer 136, the suspension hook 132 extends upwardly through an opening 138 in a projection 140 on the upper end of the suspension arm 110, to which the hook 132 is anchored by its lower end 134 and the washer 136, and through a spring washer 142 seated on the top of the suspension arm 11.
The top of the suspension arm 110 is also formed with a pair of lug-like mutually spaced, parallel circular flanges 146 and 148, each of which is formed with a circular opening 150.

The top end of the suspension arm 112 is formed with a pair of disk-shaped lateral projections 152, which are also mutually spaced and parallel and which have convex outer surfaces 154.
As illustrated in Figures 19 and 20, the suspension arms are connected to one another by sliding the disk-shaped projections 152 between the circular flanges 146 and 148 so that the disk-shaped lateral projections 152 engage by a snap action in the openings 150. The disk-shaped projections 152 and the openings 150 have diameters such that, after such snap-action engagement, the disk-shaped projections 152 can rotate freely in the openings 150, thus allowing the suspension arms 110 and 112 to pivot relative to one another.
As can be seen in Figure 15, the clamp arms 102 and 104 are formed with ribs or flanges 136 and 138 which are useful for gripping a garment (not shown) between the clamp arms 102 and 104.
A garment hanger 200 illustrated in Figures 21 and 22 has a pair of clamp arms 212 and 214, which are in the form of identical mouldings of plastic material. The clamp arms 212 and 214 are urged towards one another by a generally U-shaped metal spring 232, from which a metal hook 244 extends upwardly for suspending the garment hanger 200.
Between the clamp arms 212 and 214, there is provided a longitudinally slidable slide member 256, which serves as a retainer for releasibly holding the clamp arms 212 and 214 apart from one another, in the positions in which they are shown in Figure 22, in a manner described in greater detail below.
Referring now to Figures 25 to 27, which illustrate the slide member 256 in greater detail, it will be seen that the slide member 256 has an elongate, generally rectangular shape in plan view.

Opposite the facing openings 258 and 259 are formed in opposite longitudinal sides of the slide member 256 and merge with one another, as can be seen from Figure 26, leaving a wedge formation 260 which proj ects, in the interior of the slide member 256, into the merged openings 258 and 259.
As can also be seen from Figure 26, the merged openings 258 and 259 form a slot 262 extending across the entire width of the slide member 256, and at the end of the slide member 256 remote from the wedge formation 260, a slot extension 264 projects beyond the slot 262.
As can be seen from Figure 29, the slide member 256 is formed above and below the slot extension 264 with openings 266 and 267.
The openings 266 and 267 are identical in shape to one another and, as shown in Figure 26, which illustrates the opening 266, are formed with a plurality of arcuate detent recesses 268 at opposite sides thereof, the sides of the opening formed by the detent recesses 268 being convergent longitudinally of the slide member 256 in a direction extending away from the wedge formation 260.
The clamp arms 212 and 214 are each formed with a projection in the form of a flange 270 of trapezoidal shape, which projects laterally from its respective clamp on 212 or 214 into a corresponding one of the slots 258 and 259 in the slide member 256 and, more particularly, into contact with the wedge formation 260. By longitudinally displacing the slide member 256 relative to the flanges 270, the wedge formation 260 slides along the inclined side surfaces of the trapezoidal flanges 270 and thereby exerts a wedging action on the flanges 270 to cause the clamp arms 212 and 214 to be forced apart from one another, from the positions in which they are shown in Figure 21 to the positions in which they are shown in Figure 22, against the action of the spring 232.

Figure 28 shows two pairs of cylindrical projections 274 and 276 at the top and the underside, respectively, of one of the flanges 270, and the other of the flanges 270 is likewise identically formed with two pairs of these cylindrical projections.
The detent recesses 268 and the cylindrical projections 274 and 276 are interengageable detent formations. Figure 29 shows two of the cylindrical projections extending into the openings 266 and 267, respectively, into sprung detent engagement with the detent 268, whereby the slide member 256 is releasibly retained against longitudinal displacement, thus releasably maintaining the clamp arms 212 and 214 in their spaced-apart positions.
Figures 30 to 32 show a modification of the slide member 256, indicated by reference numeral 280.
In the modified slide member 280, the openings 266 and 267 have been omitted, and replaced by a second wedge formation 261, which is directed oppositely from the wedge formation 260. When this modified slide member 280 is employed, the cylindrical projections are omitted from the flanges 270, and the slide member 280 can be displaced longitudinally to and fro to cause either the wedge formation 260 or the wedge formation 261 to wedge the clamp arms 212 and 214 apart from one another.
Various modifications to the above-described embodiments of the invention may be made within the scope of the appended claims.
For example, advertisements may be provided on labels adhered to the hangers or on printing and/or embossing on the hangers.
The hanger components, other than the spring and the hook, may be molded from e.g.
polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon or ABS.
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Claims (23)

Claims

1. A garment hanger, comprising:
a pair of clamp arms;
a spring urging said clamp arms from first positions, in which said clamp arms are spaced apart from one another, towards second positions, in which said clamp arms are adjacent another; and a retainer operable to readily releasibly retain said clamp arms in said first position.

2. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 1, including first and second suspension arms extending upwardly from said clamp arms, said spring acting between said suspension arms and said retainer being a catch on said second suspension arm, said catch being releasibly engageable with said first suspension arm.

3. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 2, wherein said catch is provided on a tongue extending from said second suspension arm through a slot in said first suspension arm.

4. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein said suspension arms comprise lower portions extending past one another laterally of said suspension arms to respective ones of said clamp arms.

5. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 4, wherein one of said suspension arms is bifurcated at said lower portion thereof to define an opening between said bifurcated lower portion and a respective one of said clamp arms, and said lower portion of the other of said suspension arms extends through said opening.

6. A garment hanger as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said spring comprises a metal strip having an arcuate intermediate portion between a pair of depending spring arms, said clamp arms being secured to respective ones of said spring arms and said spring arms being urged apart from one another by said arcuate intermediate portion.

7. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 2, wherein said spring comprises a helical compression spring, said compression spring having opposite ends acting against said suspension arms.

8. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a pivot, said suspension arms having upper ends which are pivotally connected to one another by said pivot.

9. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a suspension hook extending upwardly from said upper ends of said suspension arms, said suspension hook having a lower end second to said pivot.

10. A garment hanger, comprising;
a pair of clamp arms;
a spring urging said clamp arms towards one another;
said spring comprising a pair of spring arms connected to respective ones of said clamp arms and an arcuate intermediate spring portion between said spring arms;
said spring comprising a metal strip; and a suspension hook having a lower portion thereof secured to said arcuate intermediate spring portion.

11. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 10, wherein said lower portion of said suspension hook extends through an opening in said arcuate intermediate spring portion and has a widened lower end retaining said lower portion to said spring.

12. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 11, wherein said opening is a slot extending along said arcuate intermediate spring portion and having a widening through which said widened lower end of said suspension hook can be passed to engage and disengage said suspension hook and said spring.

13. A garment hanger, comprising:
a pair of clamp arms;
a pair of suspension arms;
said suspension arms having lower portions extending past one another laterally of said suspension arms to respective ones of said clamp arms, said suspension arms having upper ends;
a pivot connecting said upper ends of said suspension arms to one another and allowing relative pivotation of said suspension arms between first positions, in which said clamp arms are spaced apart from one another, and second positions, in which said clamp arms are adjacent one another;
said spring comprising a helical compression spring acting between said suspension arms and urging said clamp arms towards said second positions; and a suspension hook having a lower portion thereof secured to said arcuate intermediate spring portion.

14. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a retainer operable to releasibly retain said clamp arms in said first positions.

15. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 14, wherein said retainer comprises a catch on a first one of said suspension arms, said catch being releasibly engageable with the other of said suspension arms.

16. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 15, wherein said catch comprises a flexible tongue formed in one piece with said fixed suspension arm and a first projection on said tongue, said hanger including a second projection, said second projection being engageable with said first projection for retaining said clamp arms in said first positions.

17. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 16, wherein said tongue has a free end extending beyond said first projection.

18. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 1,wherein said retainer comprises a slide member between said clamp arms, said slide member being in wedging contact with projections on said clamp arms.

19. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 18, wherein said slide member has oppositely facing openings on opposite longitudinal sides of said slide member and said projections extend into said openings.

20. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 18 or 19, wherein said slide member and said projections have interengageable detent formations.

21. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 19, wherein said slide member has oppositely directed wedge formations within said openings in sliding contact with said projections.

22. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 21, wherein said projections comprise trapezondial flanges on said clamp arms.

23. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 1, 18, 19, 20, 21 or 22, wherein said clamp arms are identical to one another.