GB2044096A - Clothes hanger - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a clothes hanger having gripping means for suspending garments such as skirts or trousers. The clothes hanger comprises a support bar 2 having at least one hole 3 therein, and a resilient U-shaped peg 4 adjustably accommodated within the or each hole. As the peg is advanced through the hole with its closed end approaching the hole, the open ends of the U are progressively pressed together by opposing sides of the hole so as to grip an article of clothing placed between the said open ends. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Clothes hanger This invention relates to a clothes hanger.

More particularly, the invention relates to a clothes hanger having gripping means for suspending garments such as skirts or trousers. A disadvantage of previously proposed clothes hangers of this type is inadequate gripping action, with the result that garments can easily be released accidentally.

Furhermore, the strength of the gripping action has not previously been readily adjustable. Still a further disadvantage has been the required use of relatively complex metallic spring members which wear out quite quickly.

An object of this invention is to provide a clothes hanger having gripping means which does not suffer from the disadvantages mentioned above.

The invention provides a clothes hanger comprising a support bar having at least one hole therein, and a resilient U-shaped peg adjustably accommodated within the or each hole in such a way that, as the peg is advanced through the hole, the open ends of the U are progressively pressed together by opposing sides of the hole so as to grip an article of clothing placed between the said open ends.

The support bar preferably has one hole at or close to each end and a hook at the centre so that it can be suspended in a conventional way. Preferably, each of the outer side faces of the or each peg has a plurality of horizontal channels formed therein, which channels are engageable with complementary horizontal shoulders on the opposing inside faces of the or each hole, whereby the or each peg can be adjustably held within the or each hole. It is furthermore preferred that a V-shaped shoulder is provided on each of the inner faces of the U close to the free end of the or each peg, so as to provide an effective grip on a garment.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clothes hanger according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is an end view showing how the peg is accommodated within the hole; Figure 3 is a front view of the hanger shown in Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a top view of the support bar of the hanger.

The clothes hanger shown in the drawings has a hook 1 in the centre of the support bar 2. Close to the end of each limb of the support bar, the bar is formed into a hole 3 which is rectangularwhen viewed from above. Each of the two holes accommo dates a resilient U-shaped peg 4, which is inserted into the hole so that the closed end of the U is uppermost. The peg is a flat strip of plastics material which has been bent into a U-shape. The outer flat faces of the U abut against opposing inner faces of the rectangular hole.

The abutting faces of the hole hold the peg under constraint, and the free ends of the U are pushed towards each other, thus distorting the U to some extent. The resilience of the material of the peg biases the free ends of the U apart, to reform a true U-shape.

As the peg is advanced into the hole,.and the closed end of the U approaches the hole, the U is distorted to an increasing extent by the walls of the hole, until eventually the free ends of the U touch each other. The free ends can thus exert a gripping action on an article of clothing place therebetween.

As the peg is further advanced into the hole, the strength of the gripping action is increased. In order to release the grip, the peg is moved within the hole so that the closed end of the U recedes from the hole. The free ends of the U then move apart.

In order to enhance the gripping ability of the peg, a V-shaped shoulder 5 is provided on each of the inner faces of the U close to the free end at the point where they touch. The upper face of the shoulder is horizontal, and the lower face is sloping, so that an article of clothing cannot accidentally be pulled from the grip of the peg. This arrangement is particularly suitable for gripping a garment having a relatively thick waistband, the V-shaped shoulders gripping the garment just below the waistband.

Each of the outer side faces of the peg has a number of horizontal channels 6 formed therein.

These channels engage with complementary horizontal shoulders 7 on the opposing inside faces of the holes in the support bar. When the channels are so engaged, the peg is not readily slidable within the hole, and thus cannot be accidentally released from the gripping position. In order to release the grip, the sides of the U must first be pressed together to disengage the channels, and the peg can then be moved within the hole.

Each of the holes in the support bar can be replaced by a pair of slots, arranged side by side, each accommodating one limb of the U-shaped peg.

This modification operates in the same way as that described above.

The support bar may have more than one hole formed on each side of the centre. A single peg may be interchangeable between the various holes on each side, so that the hanger can be used with garments of various sizes. A similar result can be achieved with a single relatively long hole on each side of the centre. The peg can then be slid horizontally along the hole to a desired position.

1. A clothes hanger comprising a support bar having at least one hole therein, and a resilient U-shaped peg adjustably accommodated within the or each hole in such a way that, as the peg is advanced through the hole with its closed end approaching the hole, the open ends of the U are progressively pressed together by opposing sides of the hole so as to grip an article of clothing placed between the said open ends.

2. A clothes hanger as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the support bar has one hole at or close to each end and a hook in the centre.

3. A clothes hanger as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the outer side faces of the or each

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Clothes hanger This invention relates to a clothes hanger. More particularly, the invention relates to a clothes hanger having gripping means for suspending garments such as skirts or trousers. A disadvantage of previously proposed clothes hangers of this type is inadequate gripping action, with the result that garments can easily be released accidentally. Furhermore, the strength of the gripping action has not previously been readily adjustable. Still a further disadvantage has been the required use of relatively complex metallic spring members which wear out quite quickly. An object of this invention is to provide a clothes hanger having gripping means which does not suffer from the disadvantages mentioned above. The invention provides a clothes hanger comprising a support bar having at least one hole therein, and a resilient U-shaped peg adjustably accommodated within the or each hole in such a way that, as the peg is advanced through the hole, the open ends of the U are progressively pressed together by opposing sides of the hole so as to grip an article of clothing placed between the said open ends. The support bar preferably has one hole at or close to each end and a hook at the centre so that it can be suspended in a conventional way. Preferably, each of the outer side faces of the or each peg has a plurality of horizontal channels formed therein, which channels are engageable with complementary horizontal shoulders on the opposing inside faces of the or each hole, whereby the or each peg can be adjustably held within the or each hole. It is furthermore preferred that a V-shaped shoulder is provided on each of the inner faces of the U close to the free end of the or each peg, so as to provide an effective grip on a garment. Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clothes hanger according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is an end view showing how the peg is accommodated within the hole; Figure 3 is a front view of the hanger shown in Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a top view of the support bar of the hanger. The clothes hanger shown in the drawings has a hook 1 in the centre of the support bar 2. Close to the end of each limb of the support bar, the bar is formed into a hole 3 which is rectangularwhen viewed from above. Each of the two holes accommo dates a resilient U-shaped peg 4, which is inserted into the hole so that the closed end of the U is uppermost. The peg is a flat strip of plastics material which has been bent into a U-shape. The outer flat faces of the U abut against opposing inner faces of the rectangular hole. The abutting faces of the hole hold the peg under constraint, and the free ends of the U are pushed towards each other, thus distorting the U to some extent. The resilience of the material of the peg biases the free ends of the U apart, to reform a true U-shape. As the peg is advanced into the hole,.and the closed end of the U approaches the hole, the U is distorted to an increasing extent by the walls of the hole, until eventually the free ends of the U touch each other. The free ends can thus exert a gripping action on an article of clothing place therebetween. As the peg is further advanced into the hole, the strength of the gripping action is increased. In order to release the grip, the peg is moved within the hole so that the closed end of the U recedes from the hole. The free ends of the U then move apart. In order to enhance the gripping ability of the peg, a V-shaped shoulder 5 is provided on each of the inner faces of the U close to the free end at the point where they touch. The upper face of the shoulder is horizontal, and the lower face is sloping, so that an article of clothing cannot accidentally be pulled from the grip of the peg. This arrangement is particularly suitable for gripping a garment having a relatively thick waistband, the V-shaped shoulders gripping the garment just below the waistband. Each of the outer side faces of the peg has a number of horizontal channels 6 formed therein. These channels engage with complementary horizontal shoulders 7 on the opposing inside faces of the holes in the support bar. When the channels are so engaged, the peg is not readily slidable within the hole, and thus cannot be accidentally released from the gripping position. In order to release the grip, the sides of the U must first be pressed together to disengage the channels, and the peg can then be moved within the hole. Each of the holes in the support bar can be replaced by a pair of slots, arranged side by side, each accommodating one limb of the U-shaped peg. This modification operates in the same way as that described above. The support bar may have more than one hole formed on each side of the centre. A single peg may be interchangeable between the various holes on each side, so that the hanger can be used with garments of various sizes. A similar result can be achieved with a single relatively long hole on each side of the centre. The peg can then be slid horizontally along the hole to a desired position. CLAIMS

1. A clothes hanger comprising a support bar having at least one hole therein, and a resilient U-shaped peg adjustably accommodated within the or each hole in such a way that, as the peg is advanced through the hole with its closed end approaching the hole, the open ends of the U are progressively pressed together by opposing sides of the hole so as to grip an article of clothing placed between the said open ends.

2. A clothes hanger as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the support bar has one hole at or close to each end and a hook in the centre.

3. A clothes hanger as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the outer side faces of the or each peg has a plurality of horizontal channels formed therein, which channels are engageable with com plementary horizontal shoulders on the opposing inside faces of the or each hole, whereby the or each peg can be adjustably held within the or each hole.

4. A clothes hanger as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein a V-shaped shoulder is provided on each of the inner faces of the U close to the free end of the or each peg, so as to provide an effective grip on a garment.

5. A clothes hanger substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Printed for Her Maiesty's Stationery Office by Croydon Printing Company Limited. Croydon Surrey, 1980.

Published by the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1AY.

from which copies may be obtained.