CL0THE5HANGER, PIVOT ARRANGEMENT FOR MAKING THE SAME AND A METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE CLOTHESHANGER.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a clothes-hanger in¬ cluding a suspension device, such as a hook or the like, which is connected to support portions for supporting a garment.
The present invention also relates to a rotary apparatus for producing a clothes-hanger, with rotary connection between a first portion with sleeve-shaped recesses and a second portion with a plug-shaped projection which is rotatably accommodated in the recess, the plug-shaped pro¬ jection being produced by injection moulding, employing the recess as mould cavity wall.
Finally, the present invention also relates to a method of producing a clothes-hanger comprising the steps that a first portion of the clothes-hanger is produced by in¬ jection moulding and is provided with a sleeve-shaped re¬ cess, that the first portion is placed in an injection moulding tool for producing a second portion of the clothes-hanger and at least the wall of the recess is em¬ ployed as a part of the defining wall of the mould cavity on production of the second portion.
BACKGROUND ART
Clothes-hangers are previously known in a multiplicity of different types. These are produced in such a manner that those parts on which the garment is intended to rest when the clothes-hanger is in use are either directly connected to a suspension hook or are indirectly connected thereto via a portion disposed between the support portions. In certain cases, the suspension hook proper may be rotary
about a vertical axis at its anchorage in the remaining parts of the clothes-hanger.
A clothes-hanger designed in this manner necessitates the assembly of several different components, which implies a costly assembly operation of the clothes-hanger.
It is also known in the art to realise a swivel connection between two parts in the relevant clothes-hanger, by sep- arately producing a first part with a sleeve-shaped recess and thereafter a second part with a plug-shaped projection which is often resiliently yieldable in order to be able to be snapped into the sleeve-shaped recess. However, the mounting of such a swivel connection entails extra oper- ational phases which render the final product more ex¬ pensive.
Manufacture of prior art clothes-hangers has generally taken the form of injection moulding of different details which are subsequently joined together, or alternatively the form of injection moulding of one detail which is then combined (as a rule while the plastic detail is still warm) with a component produced of metal o other ma¬ terial.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has for its object to realize a clothes-hanger of the type mentioned by way of introduc- tion, the clothes-hanger being designed in such a manner that it will, first, be dependable in function, secondly provide good mechanical strength, and thirdly eliminate unnecessary assembly stages. The present invention further has for its object to realize a clothes-hanger which, in its manufacture, requires a relatively small injection moulding tool and which, in addition, may be packed and transported with the minimum of space requirements.
The present invention yet further has for its object to realize a rotary apparatus which permits rational manu¬ facture of the clothes-hanger and, in addition, affords a high level of precision in the swivel connection.
Finally, the present invention has for its object to re¬ alise a method of producing the clothes-hanger, the method permitting rapid and rational manufacture and, above all, eliminating complicated and time-consuming assembly oper- ation phases. Finally, the present still further has for its object to scale the method such that production may be effected in a considerably smaller tool than is normally possible.
SOLUTION
Concerning the clothes-hanger, the object forming the basis of the present invention will be attained if the clothes-hanger is characterized in that the suspension de- vice is connected to the support portions via swivel con¬ nections which have an axis of rotation lying substan¬ tially in the same plane as the support portions, the sus¬ pension device being, on manufacture, located there¬ between.
Further advantages in respect of the clothes-hanger will be attained if this is also given one or more of the characterizing features as set forth in Claims 2-4.
Concerning the rotary apparatus, the object forming the basis of the present invention will be attained if the rotary apparatus is characterized in that the first por¬ tion has a through channel for permitting, during in¬ jection moulding, a through flow of molten plastic material.
Further advantages will be attained in respect of the rotary apparatus if this is also given one or more of the characterizing features as set forth in Claims 6 and 7.
Finally, concerning the method according to the present invention, the above-disclosed object will be attained if the method is characterized in that the first portion is provided with a through channel and that plastic material is caused to pass through this channel for the formation of different parts of the first portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The present invention will now be described in greater de- tail hereinbelow, with particular reference to the accom¬ panying Drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a clothes-hanger ac¬ cording to the present invention;
Fig. 2 shows, on a larger scale and partly in cross section, the three-way, swivel connection which is employed in the clothes-hanger of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 shows a detail for achieving a different swivel connection in the clothes-hanger of Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 shows a modified embodiment of the connection of
Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 shows a modified embodiment of the arrangement of
Fig. 3;
Fig. 6 shows a modified embodiment of the arrangement of Fig. 2; and
Fig. 7 shows a modified embodiment of the arrangement of Fig. 4.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
It is apparent from Fig. 1 that the clothes-hanger schem¬ atically intimated in the Figure has two upper, obliquely inclined support portions 1 for supporting or suspending a garment, the portions being, at their lower/outer ends, 5 connected to a transverse connecting piece 2 via suitably arched transition regions. In the upper regions, the sup¬ port portions 1 merge into a collar portion 3 which is in¬ tended to hold or support the collar of the garment and which, at a central portion, has two swivel connections 4 and 5, respectively, via which a centre piece 6 is secured in order to be pivotal about the axis 7 shown by broken lines. The axis 7 lies substantially in the same plane as the support portions 1 and is symmetric (has substantially the same angle) in relation thereto. The centre piece 6 is approximately T-shaped and is provided, in its lower end, with an additional swivel connection 8 via which the sus¬ pension device of the clothes-hanger, such as a suspension hook 9, is secured in the centre piece. Hereby, the sus¬ pension hook 9 is rotary about its vertical axis, i.e. the axis 10 intimated by broken lines.
The detailed design of the swivel connections 4, 5 and 8 will be described more closely below.
The clothes-hanger according to Fig. 1 is manufactured in such a manner that the centre piece 6 is produced separ¬ ately, for example by injection moulding, by casting in metal or by other suitable processes employing a mould, as will be described in detail below. In the manufacture of the clothes-hanger proper, this centre piece 6 is th. n placed in its intended position in the mould cavity in the tool in which the clothes-hanger proper (details 1 , 2 and 3) and the suspension hook 9 are to be injection moulded. On manufacture, the different components are located in the manner shown by solid lines in Fig. 1, but after the
injection moulding (or possibly once the clothes-hanger has been transported to the user) , the suspension hook 9 is turned up to the position shown by broken lines.
Because of the high pressure employed in injection mould¬ ing, on manufacture of the clothes-hanger, the outer de¬ fining surfaces of the centre piece 6 must, at least in regions at the swivel connections 4, 5 and 8, possess ad¬ equate tolerances and be of good fit in the injection moulding tool so that the centre piece is not permitted to expand to any appreciable degree when the clothes-hanger proper and its suspension hook are injection moulded.
If the centre piece 6 is produced by injection moulding of plastic, a material for the centre piece is selected which has a higher softening/melting temperature than is the case for the remaining parts of the clothes-hanger. Furthermore, it also applies to choice of material that the material in the clothes-hanger and the suspension hook should display no adhesion (or at least as peer adhesion as possible) to the material in the centre piece. A ma¬ terial with a relatively high degree of shrinkage during the cooling cycle and immediately thereafter is, moreover, suitably selected for the material in the clothes-hanger. The reason for this will be explained below.
In the manufacture of the clothes-hanger, it is also pos¬ sible, if such were to be deemed necessary, to provide the centre piece 6 - at least interiorly in the sleeve-shaped recesses 11 of the centre piece - with a mould release agent which prevents adhesion of that material of which the remaining parts of the clothes-hanger consist.
While not being apparent at all from Fig. 1, the swivel connections 4 and 5 are suitably designed in such a manner as to permit a stepwise rotation of the centre piece 6 in relation to the collar portion 3. In such instance, the
step is preferably an angle of rotation of 180* so that thereby the suspension hook 9 will have two well-defined positions, one which is shown by solid lines and one which is shown by broken lines. Correspondingly, the swivel con- nection 8 may be desiged so as to permit a stepwise ro¬ tation of the suspension hook 9 in relation to the centre piece 6. In this instance, at least the swivel position illustrated in Fig. 1 should constitute one rotation step, while another position turned through 180* about the axis 10 should also be included as rotation step. Naturally, different stop positions may also be used therebetween if the clothes-hanger is to be employed for specific prac¬ tical purposes.
Fig. 2 shows, on a larger scale and partly in cross section, the centre piece 6 and a part of the suspension hook 9, as well as the parts of the collar portions 3 ad¬ jacent the centre piece 6, or of the support portions 1 if these are extended upwardly so that the centre piece 6 connects directly to these portions. In this instance, the centre piece is shown in a position corresponding to the position illustrated by broken lines in Fig. 1.
It will be apparent from the Drawing that, as mentioned above, the centre piece 6 is approximately T-shaped, and that it has, in each one of its shanks, a sleeve-shaped recess 11 which is cylindrical in this embodiment. The cylindrical cross section is not critical, it being suf¬ ficient that the sleeve-shaped recess possesses a rotation-symmetrical cross section in which the axial dia¬ meter plane of the recess may be of as good as any desired configuration, for example an undulating form.
In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, the sleeve-shaped recess 11 is provided with a shallow groove 12, this groove forming, in the sleeve-shaped recess, a portion which realizes an undercut. Naturally, a corresponding
annular inward bulge may also be employed instead of the groove 12, if desired.
It will further be apparent from Fig. 2 that both the sus- pension hook 9 and the two collar portions 3 (or alterna¬ tively the support portions 1 ) are provided with plug- shaped projections 13 which are produced by injection moulding in one piece with the suspension hook or the two collar portions, respectively. Production of the plug- shaped projections 13 is effected in an injection moulding tool and in which the defining surfaces of the sleeve- shaped recesses 11 constitute a part of the mould wall on production of the suspension hook and the collar por¬ tions. As a result of this production technique, the plug- -shaped projections 13 will be of complementary shapein relation to the recesses 11.
If the material in the collar portions 3 and the sus¬ pension hook 9 is selected such that the material shrinks somewhat during or immediately after the injection moulding, the transverse dimension of the projections 13 will be slightly less than the interior transverse di¬ mension of the recess 11. Hereby, it will be possible to rotate the plugs 13 in the recesses 11.
Since the recesses 11 have undercut portions, in this case formed by the grooves 12, the plugs 13 will have corres¬ pondingly outwardly directed beads which prevent an axial withdrawal of the collar portions 3 and the suspension hook 9 from the centre piece 6.
On production of the swivel connections according to Fig. 2, for instance the centre piece 6 may be produced by in¬ jection moulding of acetal plastic. In order to manage production of the grooves 12, the centre piece must be re¬ moved from the injection moulding tool in which it is produced before it has completely cooled if withdrawal
of those cores which form the recesses 11 is not to des¬ troy the centre piece. Despite this production technique, the centre piece may be expected to be of the requisite precision.
As a suitable material for producing the support portions 1 and the suspension hook 9, mention might be made of polypropylene or styrene plastic. When designing the centre piece 6, it must be ensured that its outer sur- faces, at least along those portions which cover the major part of the recesses 11 , are of relatively good dimen¬ sional accuracy and also configurational accuracy so that the outer surfaces may be adequately supported in the moulding tool in which the collar portions 3 and the sus- pension hook 9 are produced. The reason for this is that the relatively thin wall portions of the centre piece 6 would otherwise expand outwardly when injection of the plastic material for forming the collar portions and sus¬ pension hook takes place at high pressure into the reces- ses. Such an expansion would nullify the action of the shrinkage in the material in the plugs.
The above-described fit between the centre piece 6 and the moulding tool for producing the support portions 1 and the suspension hook 9 is also advantageous such that the centre piece may be pressed fast in the moulding tool without any serious risk of dropping out.
DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS
Fig. 3 shows an outer portion 17 for a swivel connection produced according to the invention. It is apparent from the Figure that the outer portion 17 has a recess 11 whose appearance may essentially be described as cylindrical. However, in this embodiment, the "cylindrical circum¬ ferential surface" is not completely smooth but has circumferential undulations 14 so that, in cross section,
the contour of the recess will be undulating or cor¬ rugated. These undulations 14 form the above-mentioned undercuts. It is further apparent from Fig. 3 that the end surface of the outer portion is provided with at least one, but preferably more relatively shallow recesses 15 which, on manufacture of a second part 16 included in the swivel connection, will result in a corresponding pro¬ jection. Since the recess 15 is relatively shallow and the material in both the second swivel portion 16 and in that portion 17 in which the sleeve 11 is disposed is somewhat elastic and resiliently yieldable, the recess 15 and the corresponding projection will define stop positions which permit a stepwise rotation of both of the parts in re¬ lation to one another. Depending upon the number and placement of the recess or recesses 15, for example a turn of 90* may be achieved in each step.
As an alternative to the recess 15 in the outer portion 17, projections may naturally also be employed, in which event the rotary portion 16 will have corresponding reces¬ ses.
It will further be apparent from the Drawing that the rotary portion 17 with the sleeve 11 has an axially pro- jecting plug 18 in whose end a bead 19 is disposed. The placement and configuration of the bead are of minor con¬ sequence, as long as it realizes an undercut 21 which prevents a portion 20 cast about the plug 18 from being removed in an axial direction.
On manufacture of the device according to Fig. 3, the rotary portion 17 is first produced, for example by in¬ jection moulding in suitable plastic material. Thereafter, it is placed in the intended position in that tool in which both of the parts 16 and 20 are to be produced. In such instance, on injection moulding of the parts 16 and 20, there will be formed on the part 16 a projecting plug
which is shaped as a complement to the recess 11 and which, on cooling of the plastic material, shrinks some¬ what in relation to the recess 1. There will thus be formed between the parts 16 and 17 a swivel connection of the type described above.
On the injection of the part 20 about the plug 18, the ma¬ terial will wholly surround the plug. When the material in the part 20 subsequently shrinks somewhat on cooling, this will entail a good interconnection of the parts 17 and 20. If the intention is to realize a non-rotary intercon¬ nection of the parts 17 and 20, the plug 18 may, to ensure such non-rotary interconnection, possibly also be made non-rotationally symmetric, for example be milled in the longitudinal direction.
In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, production of the undercut grooves 12 may possibly involve certain prob¬ lems. In order at least partly to obviate these problems, it is possible according to the present invention and in the embodiment of Fig. 4, to provide the centre piece 6 with a through bore 22 which replaces the shorter sleeve- shaped recesses 11 used in Fig. 2. This implies that, when the collar portion 3 is subsequently injected, this will become a through portion in one piece interiorly in the bore so that a connection portion 23 will be disposed in the bore.
As a result of this design and construction, both parts of the collar portion 3 will be held in the same axial di¬ rection, for which reason the grooves 12 in the embodiment according to Fig. 2 will become superfluous.
In order also to avoid counterparts to the grooves 12 in the upwardly directed connection in which the suspension hook 9 is secured, the centre piece 6 is, in this embodi¬ ment, provided with a projecting plug 24 with a circum-
ferential groove 25. In this instance, this groove 25 serves the same purpose as the undulation 14 in the embodiment according to Fig. 3 and, naturally, the circum¬ ferential groove 25 may, as a result, be replaced by all of the variations and modifications described above.
Analogous with that described above, the centre piece 6 is, in the embodiment according to Fig. 4, produced in a separate injection moulding process, by casting in metal or other suitable manufacturing process. Thereafter, the centre piece is placed in that injection moulding tool in which both the clothes-hanger 1 , 2 and 3 proper and the suspension hook 9 are to be produced in an injection moulding cycle. In such instance, the material of which the collar portions 3 is produced will flow into the through bore 22 and there form the connection portion 23 which, on cooling and hardening of the material, shrinks somewhat so that a good swivel connection will thereby be achieved.
On the production of the suspension hook 9, its material will be sprayed exteriorly about the projecting plug 24. This naturally implies that the material in the suspension hook 9 will shrink on cooling about the plug 24. This not- withstanding, it is possible to make the connection bet¬ ween the suspension hook 9 and the plug 24 rotary, on con¬ dition that the plug 24 possesses more or less satisfac¬ tory surface smoothness and that it, of course, is of a rotation-symmetric cross section. However, the swivel con- nection which is hereby created will be considerably more "sluggish" than is the case for the rotary connection bet¬ ween the through bore 22 and the connection portion 23.
An improvement to the swivel connection between the plug 24 and the suspension hook 9 can, however, be achieved by employing a release agent. Choice of such material in the hook 9 as displays as slight shrinkage as possible on cooling will further act in the same direction.
The above-described arrangements and devices for dividing up the swivel connection into a plurality of different, well-defined rotational steps may also be employed in the embodiment according to Fig. 4.
While the present invention may be reduced into practice, i.e. employed, to greatest advantage in a clothes-hanger of approximately the type shown in Fig. 1 (the swivel con¬ nection 8 may very well be dispensed with) , the same swivel connection can be employed in many other contexts.
In the embodiment according to Fig. 4, the centre piece 6 has a through bore or channel 22 which establishes com¬ munication between mutually facing ends of the collar por- tions 3 or alternatively mutually facing ends of the sup¬ port portions 1 if these were to be lengthened so that they extend right up to the centre piece 6. The molten plastic material, on injection moulding of the clothes- hanger 1-3 proper, flows or passes through this through bore 22. Placing of the sprue to a tool in which the clothes-hanger proper is injection moulded will hereby be facilitated.
If, as shown in Fig. 7, the through bore 22 is connected to a transverse channel 26, the suspension device, i.e. the hook 9, may also be injection moulded in one and the same operational phase with the rest of the clothes-hanger 1-3. Thus, on injection moulding of the entire clothes- hanger, the plastic material will flow through the through bore 22 and the transverse channel 26 so that only a single sprue is required to the tool, even though the en¬ tire clothes-hanger, including the suspension device, is produced simultaneously.
Fig. 6 shows a further variation on the same theme, a development of the embodiment according to Fig. 2. In the variation illustrated in Fig. 6, the sleeve-shaped recesses 11 have, in their inner ends, been connected via
a through channel 27 which permits passage of plastic ma¬ terial during the injection moulding process proper. This through channel 27 is suitably placed centrally and co- axially with the sleeve-shaped recesses 11, whereby that material quantity which remains in the though channel 27 after hardening of the plastic material may be turned or rotate together with the plug-shaped projections 23.
In the embodiment according to Fig. 6, that material quantity which remains in the through channel 27 will pre¬ vent the mutually facing ends of the collar portions 3 from being pulled out of the centre piece 6. Thus, the ma¬ terial in the through channel constitutes a safeguard which prevents axial withdrawal of the collar portions, or possibly the support portions 1 if these were to be leng¬ thened up into direct connection with the centre piece 6. In such an embodiment, the circumferential grooves 12 in the centre piece 6 may possibly be dispensed with, since the channel 27 provides requisite positional fixing.
In the embodiment according to Fig. 6, the through channel 27 is further connected to a transverse channel 28 which is connected to the sleeve-shaped recess 11 in the centre piece 6 which realizes the plug-shaped projection 13 of the suspension hook 9. The connection of this transverse channel 28 implies that, on injection moulding of the clothes-hanger 1-3 proper, plastic material will pass through the through channel 27 and into the transverse channel 28 in order thereby to fill out that portion of the mould cavity which forms the suspension hook 9.
Injection moulding of the suspension hook 9 via the trans- verse channel 28 might appear to prevent rotation of the suspension hook 9 about the axis of rotation 10 in Fig. 1. However, this poses no major problem according to the invention, since that material which remains in the trans¬ verse channel 28 may readily be twisted off (sheared) so
that full rotatability will be obtained in the suspension hoc.' 9. Correspondingly, the coupling between the material in the through channel 27 and the transverse channel 28 entails no difficulties for the swivel connections 4 and 5, since rotatability may also here very readily be achieved quite simply in that the centre piece 6 is forcibly turned in relation to the rest of the clothes- hanger 1-3, whereby breakage occurs in the material in the channel 27.
In the embodiment according to Fig. 6, the circumferential grooves 12 or other undercuts or axial safeguards must be retained in the centre piece, since the material remaining in the channels 27 and 28 after hardening and twisting off provides no axial positional fixing of the collar portions 3 in relation to one another, nor of the suspension hook 9 in relation to the centre piece 6.
In the embodiment according to Fig. 6, it may also be pos- sible to provide indications of fracture in the channels 27 and 28, implying that the material in the channels will, after hardening, break at intended places when the rotation operation is carried out.
Fig. 5 illustrates a variation of the design and con¬ struction according to Fig. 2, it being clearly apparent that the rotary portion 17 is provided with a through channel 27 through which plastic material may pass the swivel connection 8 on production of the suspension hook 9.
The embodiment according to Fig. 5 may also be advant¬ ageous if the intention is to produce a clothes-hanger in which the suspension hook 9, on manufacture, is not located in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, and in which the swivel connections 4 and 5 are not deemed necessary.
By causing the material remaining in the through channel 27 to realize positional fixing in the axial direction of parts mutually interconnected via the rotary portion 17, the undercut 21 may possibly be dispensed with.
In order to utilize the advantage afforded by the present invention to the full, in particular the elimination of assembly work after the injection moulding process, that moulding tool in which the components provided with the plug-shaped projections 13 are produced can be provided with automatically operating infeed means for those de¬ tails which in themselves are provided with the sleeve- shaped recesses 11. Hereby, fully automated production of, for example, the clothes-hanger in Fig. 1 may be achieved.
An embodiment which is based on the embodiments according to Figs. 4 and 7 is also possible. This variation is pro¬ vided with a centre piece 6 with three projecting plugs 24 so that the material of the clothes-hanger portions 1 and 3 will rotatably surround two of these plugs in the same manner as the material of the hook 9 surrounds the up¬ wardly directed plug 24 in Figs. 4 and 7. Through channels 26 through all plugs are also suitable in these var¬ iations . These channels are also mutually interconnected so as to permit the plastic material to pass through on injection moulding of the clothes-hanger 1-3 and the hook 9.
The present invention may be further modified without de- parting from the spirit and scope of the appended Claims .