GB2120542A

GB2120542A - Garment hangers

Info

Publication number: GB2120542A
Application number: GB08314196A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Stephen Outhwaite
Original assignee: TOMADO Ltd
Current assignee: TOMADO Ltd
Priority date: 1982-05-21
Filing date: 1983-05-23
Publication date: 1983-12-07
Also published as: GB2120542B; GB8314196D0

Abstract

A fail-safe automatically adjustable garment hanger comprises a one-piece plastics moulding (1) having an elongate cross-member (2) with at least one end guide portion (3) a garment-engaging member (4) with a slide portion (5) telescopically fitting the guide portion (3), a spring member (6) having its ends (6A, 6B) integral with the cross-member (2) and the garment-engaging member (4) respectively and adapted to urge the slide portion (5) outwardly of the guide portion (3), stop means (7,8) allowing insertion of the slide portion (5) into the guide portion (3) but preventing subsequent withdrawal, and garment-engaging means at the other end of the cross-member (2), together with a suspension member (9) extending upwardly from the cross-member (2) either integrally therewith or with a label-receiving portion (10) or separately and rotatable therein. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Garment hangers This invention relates to garment hangers, more particularly of the type automatically adjustable for various waist sizes of skirts or trousers.

Previously these hangers have been constructed of several parts including a crossmember with at least one end guide portion, a garment-engaging member with a slide portion telescopically fitting the guide portion of the cross-member, a coil compression spring urging the slide portion outwardly of the guide portion, stop means between the guide portion and slide portions permitting insertion of the latter into the former but preventing subsequent withdrawal, and garment-engaging means at the other end of the cross-member (usually a separate member with its own slide portion telescopically fitting and springurged in a guide portion in that other end of the cross-member, and with its own stop means), together with a suspension member extending upwardly from the cross-member and which may be a hook integral with the cross-member or separate therefrom and rotatable therein.

Such a hanger is expensive to make and assemble and is a potential danger because if breakage should occur in the (or a) guide portion of the cross-member, or in the slide portion of the (or a) garment-engaging member, or in the stop means between these two members, the garmentengaging member will break free and may fly out and cause serious injury to personnel or persons.

The object of the invention is to provide an automatically adjustable garment hanger with which, in the event of breakage, a garmentengaging member will be held captive and, therefore, cannot fly out and cause serious injury.

According to the present invention, a garment hanger comprises a one-piece plastics moulding having an elongate cross-member with at least one end guide portion, a garment-engaging member with a slide portion telescopically fitting the guide portion of the cross-member, a spring member having its ends integral with the crossmember and the garment-engaging member respectively and adapted to urge the slide portion outwardly of the guide portion, stop means allowing insertion of the slide portion of the garment-engaging member into the guide portion of the cross-member but preventing subsequent withdrawal, and garment-engaging means at the other end of the cross-member, together with a suspension member extending upwardly from the cross-member.

In the event of breakage of the guide portion of the cross-member, or of the slide portion of the garment-engaging member, or of the stop means between these members, the garment-engaging member is held captive by the spring member and so cannot fly out from the cross-member to an extent liable to cause serious injury.

Preferably, the garment-engaging means at the other end of the cross-member is also a member with a slide portion telescopically fitting a guide portion of that other end of the cross-member and with an integral spring member and stop means.

The or each guide portion is preferably of rectangular cross-section and the or each slide portion is preferably of corresponding 1-section, with a resilient barb on the inner end of the slide portion and a step in the guide portion constituting the top means. At least one side of the or each guide portion preferably has rectangular openings enabling the resilient barb to be inspected.

The or each spring member may be a U-shaped bow with its limbs inclined downwardly from the guide portion and slide portion respectively and towards the middle of the cross-member.

Alternatively, with a garment engaging member with a slide portion at each end of the crossmember with corresponding guide portions and stop means, the spring members may be the V-shaped loops of a W-shaped member having its peak integral with the middle underside of the cross-member and its free ends integral with the respective garment-engaging members.

The or each garment-engaging member or the garment-engaging means may each comprise a bar provided with ribs or pointed protrusions for engaging the inside of a waist band, and/or may be provided with a resilient clip for gripping a waist band, which clip may have releasing members grippable between finger and thumb.

The suspension member may be a hook integral with the cross-member (or with a label-receiving portion on the cross-member) or separate therefrom and rotatable therein.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a part-sectional side elevation of a garment hanger in accordance with the invention wherein each of the garment engaging means is a resilient clip; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the garment hanger referred to in Figure 1 but in its "as moulded" inclination; Figure 3 is a side elevation of a garment hanger similar to that of Figure 1 but having a W-shaped member forming the spring member; Figure 4 is a side elevation of a garment hanger similar to that of Figure 3 but wherein each of the garment engaging means is a spring-loaded clip; Figure 5 is an end view of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation similar to the right hand end of Figure 3 but showing engaging having a bar with pointed protrusions;; Figure 7 is a side elevation of a garment hanger similar to that of Figure 3 but wherein each garment hanging means has a bar provided with ribs; and Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal on the lines VIll-VIll of Figure 7, showing another modification.

In Figure 1 a garment hanger 1 comprises a one-piece plastics moulding which has an elongate cross-member 2 with guide portions 3, one at each end, a pair of garment engaging members 4 each having a slide portion 5 telescopically fitting the respective guide portions 3, and a pair of spring members 6 each comprising a U-shaped bow having its ends 6A and 6B integral respectively with the cross-member 2 adjacent one end and with one garment engaging member 4, the spring members being adapted to urge the slide portions 5 outwardly of their respective guide portions 3, stop means being provided and comprising a step 7 within each guide portion 3 and a resilient barb 8 at the end of each slide portion 5 remote from the garment engaging member 4. The resilient barbs 8 all insertion of the slide portions 5 into the guide portions 3 but prevent subsequent withdrawal.A suspension hook 9 is provided integral with a label receiving portion 10 on the cross-member 2.

Figure 2 shows the garment hanger 1 in its "as moulded" condition, that is, having the slide portions 5 free of the guide portions 3 of the cross member 2 to create the requisite outward spring urge of the garment engaging member 4 when brought to the condition of Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4 the spring members 6 are the V-shaped loops of a W-shaped member which has its flattened peak 6C integral with the middle underside of the cross-member 2 and its free ends 6D integral with the respective garment engaging members 4.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 3 the garment engaging members 4 are each comprised of a resilient clip for gripping the waist band of a skirt (not shown), which clip comprises a bar 11 integral with its respective spring 6 and slide portion 5, a gripping arm 12 and a releasing lever 13.

In Figures 4 and 5 the garment engaging members 4A each comprise a resilient clip 14 for gripping a waist band, the clip having jaws 1 5 and releasing members 1 6 grippable between finger and thumb.

In Figure 6 the garment engaging means comprises a bar 1 7 having a plurality of protrusion 1 8 to grip frictionally inside a waist band, while in Figure 7 a bar 1 7A has a series of ribs 1 8A for likewise frictionally engaging the inside of the waist band of a skirt or trousers (not shown).

Figures 7 and 8 also show alternative stop means comprising resilient loops 1 7 which project from the cross-bar 2 into the guide portion 3 to engage end portion 20 of beading round the slide portions 5.

Claims

1. A garment hanger comprising a one-piece plastics moulding having an elongate cross member with at least one end guide portion, a garment-engaging member with a slide portion telescopically fitting the guide portion of the cross-member, a spring member having its ends integral with the cross-member and the garmentengaging member respectively and adapted to urge the slide portion outwardly of the guide portion, stop means allowing insertion of the slide portion of the garment-engaging member into the guide portion of the cross-member but preventing subsequent withdrawal, and garment-engaging means at the other end of the cross-member, together with a suspension member extending upwardly from the cross-member.

2. A garment hanger as in Claim 1, wherein the garment-engaging means at the other end of the cross-member is also a member with a slide portion telescopically fitting a guide portion of that other end of the cross-member and with an integral spring member and stop means.

3. A garment hanger as in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the or each guide portion is of rectangular cross-section and the or each slide portion is of corresponding I-section, with a resilient barb on the inner end of the slide portion and a step in the guide portion constituting the stop means.

4. A garment hanger as in Claim 3, wherein at least one side of the or each guide portion has rectangular openings enabling the resilient barb to be inspected.

5. A garment hanger as any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the or each spring member is a U-shaped bow with its limbs inclined downwardly from the guide portion and slide portion respectively and towards the middle of the cross member.

6. A garment hanger as Claim 2, wherein the spring members are the V-shaped loops of a W-shaped member having its peak integral with the middle underside of the cross-member and its free ends integral with the respective garmentengaging members.

7. A garment hanger as in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the or each garment-engaging member or the garment-engaging means comprise a bar provided with ribs or pointed protrusions for engaging the inside of a waist band.

8. A garment hanger as in any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the or each garment-engaging member or the garment-engaging means is provided with a hook to engage a hanging loop.

9. A garment hanger as in any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the or each garment-engaging member or the garment-engaging means is provided with a resilient clip for gripping a waist band.

10. A garment hanger as in Claim 9, wherein the clip has releasing members grippable between finger and thumb.

11. A garment hanger as in any one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the suspension member is a hook integral with the cross-member or separate therefrom and rotatable therein.

12. A garment hanger as in any one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the suspension member is a hook integral with a label-receiving portion on the cross-member or separate therefrom and rotatable therein.

13. A garment hanger substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 or Figures 4 and 5 or as modified as in Figure 6 or as in Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.