GB2274980A - Adjustable/extendable garment hanger - Google Patents

Abstract

A tubular garment hanger which has extendable arms 1 and an adjustable fulcrum 3, so that it will support the garment perfectly across the shoulder ridge to the arm section and thereby preventing it from losing its shape. The extendable arms 1 are adjustable by using an interference fit between tubular plastic arms and the fulcrum is adjusted by using a standard wing-nut type tightening mechanism 4. The tubular shape of the hanger provides full support for the garment across the shoulder ridge. <IMAGE>

Description

This invention relates to an adjustable/extendable garment hanger.

Garment hangers are available in several different shapes and sizes and are normally given away by retail outlets, when clothes are Ffuxt&num;sed. The majority of mass produced garment hangers are adequate for supporting most types of garment however there are certain garrerts which require better support and care than the average hanger can provide (ie. Leather goods, fine wool and silk pullovers and shirts respectively).

Similarly, the garment hangers which are for sale are of a very average and standard size. there is currently no hanger available which can be fully adjusted to match the exact size and shape of a garment to provide full support and prevent it from losing its shape.

hangers hangers are often used to support drying particular clathes, especially when clothes line drying is inappropriate and could result in the garment losing its shape. The fixed shape of the standard garment hanger does not really provide an ideal alternative, especially when drying expensive garments with fine fabrics which are prone to lose their shape.

The invention comprises entendable arms and an adjustable fulcrum which means that it can support all widths, sizes and shapes of upper body garments. The arms are simply pulled or pushed in to fit the shape/size of the garment, and are secured by an interference fit between tubular plastic.

The fulcrum allows the arms to be adjusted upwards and downwards to match the shape of the garment, and is adjusted by simply tightening a wing nut type mechanism.

The specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which; Fig. 1 shows a front perspective of the the hanger and how the arms extend.

Fig. 2 illustrates how the fulcrum mechanism operates.

Fig. 3 details how the extendable arms work.

Fig. 4 shows a side-on view of the lower extendable arm inside the upper arm.

Referring to the drawing the garment hanger conforms to a standard hanger shape, however the arms are tubular (Fig. 4).

Ihe tubular arms are extendable (Fig. 1, Ref.l), with the inner tube fitting inside the outer tube by way of an interference fit (Fig. 3, Ref.6). Extension of the inner arm is halted by the lips at the end of each tube (Fig.3, Ref.7).

Ihe fulcrum mechanism (Fig. 2, Ref.3), provides upards and downwards adjustment of the arms (Fig. 2, Ref.5), and is secured by a wingnut type mechanism (Fig. 2, Ref.4). This also secures the hanging device, which is a separate component, to the arms. The ends of the arms which link at the fulcrum, are tapered and flat at the end, with an opening for the wing nut mechanism to pass through.

The trouser support arm (Fig. 1, Ref.2), would be available if the hanger was developed without the fulcrum device, and only featured the extendable arms.

Claims (3)

1. An expendable garment hanger where the length of the arms are fully

adjustable by simply pushing or pulling to match the length of the shoulder ridge of the garment.

2. An adjustable/extendable e garment hanger which is fully adjustable enabling the arms to be moved upwards and downwards to match the shape of the by simply tightening the wing-nut mechanism.

3. An adjustable/extendable gent hanger, which has tubular arms providing maximum support along the shoulder ridge part of a garment.