GB2278540A

GB2278540A - Extendible garment hanger

Info

Publication number: GB2278540A
Application number: GB9417650A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nick Andrew Lewis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-09-24
Filing date: 1994-09-02
Publication date: 1994-12-07
Also published as: GB9417650D0

Abstract

A garment hanger having two extendible arms which can be adjusted to suit the size and shape of the garment to be hung. Each arm comprises a first arch section (3, 4) and, telescopically engaged therewith, a second section (5, 6) held in position by a flat retention plate on the first section. A series of grooves, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the arm, are provided in the inner wall of the first section. A rectangular peg or rib, projects outwardly from the surface of the second section, which can be engaged in the grooves in the first section thus locking the arm at the desired length. The arms are preferably arch-shaped in cross section as shown in Fig. 2. <IMAGE>

Description

GARMENT HANGERS This invention relates to garment hangers, for example coat hangers.

Garment hangers are available in several different shapes and sizes, and are often included in the price of a garment, although garment hangers are also available separately.

Large and small retailers often need to use a wide range of different sized hangers for display purposes, because garments vary widely in size and style.

However, the cost of stocking a large number of different sized hangers can be prohibitively high and therefore the choice of hanger used by a retailer is inevitably a compromise.

As a result, the display of hanging garments can suffer, as well as the garment itself being damaged, often by bumps and general misshaping occurring along the shoulder ridge.

Similarly, garment hangers sold separately in retail outlets are generally available only in fixed format. Certain hanging garments require better support and care than the fixed hanger can provide.

For example leather goods, fine wool and silk garments, and other delicate garments which are prone to misshaping. The customer also has to make a compromise by selecting a nearest fit hanger.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a garment hanger comprising a central section and, extending in substantially opposite directions from the central section, a pair of arms for supporting a garment, each arm comprising first and second telescopically arranged elongate sections, there being means for defining a plurality of extension positions wherein each said position is determined by the interengaging of features of shape of the first and second sections.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the means for defining a plurality of extension positions comprises a series of grooves extending in a longitudinally along the associated arm and a projection projecting from the other of the sections so that the projection can be engaged (to prevent extension of the arm) or disengaged (to allow extension of the arm) by exerting a longitudinal pushing or pulling force.

In one such embodiment, the series of grooves are arranged in a longitudinal direction along an inner surface of the first section, and the projection projects from a corresponding outer surface of the second section.

In an alternative, the projection projects from an inner surface of the first section, and the series of grooves are arranged in a longitudinal direction along a corresponding outer surface of the second section.

The first and second sections may be of a resilient material which allows fractional sideways movement of the side walls of both of those sections, in order to allow the locking mechanism to operate.

Each first section may have a retention plate, to oppose downward displacement of the associated second section when a downward force is exerted on that second section.

In such an embodiment, each of the second sections may have a lip, which will engage with the corresponding retention plate to oppose separation of the second section from the associated first section.

Alternatively, each second section may have a member traversing between its side walls and each of the retention plates may have lip, which will engage with the member of the corresponding second section to oppose separation that second section from the associated first section.

The first and second sections may be substantially arch-shaped. In such an embodiment the arch-shaped sections may have a larger width than height. Also, in such an embodiment, the first and second sections may have adjacent bights.

Factors to bear in mind are the simplicity of moulding and the minimising of the number of parts.

For example, one embodiment needs only three moulded parts and these are arranged such that the lengths of the arms can be altered independently of one another.

One can also arrange by such a construction that the arms extend outwardly and downwardly from the central section.

Embodiments of the present invention may further comprise a support arm fixed at its end regions to the first sections of respective arms, which support arm is shaped to provide surfaces for supporting garments.

In such embodiments, the support arm may also have cranked end regions defining surfaces for supporting garments.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a garment hanger embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view taken on the line Il-Il in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional side view of a first arm section of the hanger of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 shows a side view of a second arm section of the hanger of Fig. 1; Figure 1 shows a garment hanger generally of standard hanger shape i.e. it comprises a central section 1, having a hook 2, and two arms. The arms comprise section 3 and 4 integral with the central section 1 and second sections 5 and 6 telescopically slidable in the sections 3 and 4. These arms extend outwardly and downwardly from the central section 1 at an angle of 25 to 35 degrees.

As shown in Figure 1, the garment hanger may be provided with a trouser support arm 11 which is fixed at its ends to the first sections 3 and 4 of the respective arms. This support arm is provided with cranked side portions defining surfaces 14 and 15 for supporting dress straps or the like.

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 11-Il of Figure 1. As is apparent from Figure 2, each of the first and second sections is of arched or U form, with the second section telescopically arranged inside the first section so that the length of each arm can be altered by pushing or pulling the second section in a direction into or out of the first section.

Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional side view of one of the first sections and Figure 4 shows a side view of one of the second sections. As seen from Figure 3, the second section in each case is retained in the first by means of a retention plate 7 which ensures that the second section remains in position when a downward force is exerted upon it. The retention plate also gives lateral strength to the first section to assist in maintaining a required frictional engagement between the first and second sections.

As shown in Figure 4, one end of each second section has a lip 8 which will engage with the retention plate on the first section in order to prevent the two sections from readily separating completely. Alternatively, there may be a lip 12 on the retention plate to engage an end plate 13 of the second section for the same purpose.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the sections are designed so that their side walls frictionally engage.

Moreover, there are interengaging features of shape which define a plurality, e.g. 5 or 6, distinct relative positions of the sections. In this example, these features of shape are an integral rectangular rib 9 projecting from the second section and a series of correspondingly shaped recesses 10 in an inner side wall of the first section, these recesses and the rib extending transverse to the longitudinal axes of the arms.

As shown in Figure 3, each first section 3 and 4 has a free end which has a projection 14 having a tapering thickness of material, in order to achieve, as far as possible, merging with the associated second section 5 or 6.

In use, the length of the arms may be adjusted by exerting a longitudinal force pulling or pushing the second section so that its rib is located in any desired recess or groove 10 in the inner wall of the first section. The second section is thus locked into a recess of the first section - this locking effect enables the arm to stay in position until further adjustment is required.

The arch shape of the first and second sections and properties of the material used, especially its resilience, enables a fractional sideways movement, or bowing, of the side walls of both the said sections to allow the locking mechanism to operate and to release.

Claims

1. A garment hanger comprising a central section and, extending in substantially opposite directions from the central section, a pair of arms for supporting a garment, each arm comprising first and second telescopically arranged elongate sections, there being means for defining a plurality of extension positions wherein each said position is determined by the interengaging of features of shape of the first and second sections.

2. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for defining a plurality of extension positions comprises a series of grooves extending in a longitudinally along the associated arm and a projection projecting from the other of the sections so that the projection can be engaged (to prevent extension of the arm) or disengaged (to allow extension of the arm) by exerting a longitudinal pushing or pulling force.

3. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 2, wherein the projection is elongate and extends in a direction transverse to the arm.

4. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the series of grooves are arranged in a longitudinal direction along an inner surface of the first section, and the projection projects from a corresponding outer surface of the second section.

5. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the projection projects from an inner surface of the first section, and the series of grooves are arranged in a longitudinal direction along a corresponding outer surface of the second section.

6. A garment hanger as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second sections are of a resilient material which allows fractional sideways movement of the side walls of both of those sections to allow the locking mechanism to operate.

7. A garment hanger as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each first section has a retention plate to oppose downward displacement of the associated second section when a downward force is exerted on that second section.

8. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of the second sections has a lip, which will engage with the corresponding retention plate to oppose separation of the second section from the associated first section.

9. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 7, wherein each second section has a member traversing between its side walls and each of the retention plates has a lip, which will engage with the member of the corresponding second section to oppose separation that second section from the associated first section.

10. A garment hanger as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second sections are substantially arch-shaped.

11. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 10, wherein the arch-shaped sections have a larger width than height.

12. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the first and second sections have adjacent bights.

13. A garment hanger as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first sections have free end regions of material which tapers towards the associated end to tend to merge with the associated second section.

14. A garment hanger as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lengths of the arms can be altered independently of one another.

15. A garment hanger as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the arms extend outwardly and downwardly from the central section.

16. A garment hanger as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a support arm fixed at its end regions to the first sections of respective arms, which support arm is shaped to provide surfaces for supporting garments.

17. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 16, wherein the support arm has cranked end regions defining surfaces for supporting garments.

18. A garment hanger comprising a central section and, extending in substantially opposite directions from the central section, a pair of arms for supporting a garment, each arm comprising first and second relatively slidable elongate sections, there being means for defining a plurality of relative, extension, positions of the sections wherein each said position is determined by a portion of the hanger defining a series of grooves or projections coupled to one of the sections and extending longitudinally of the associated arm and selectively engaging a recess or projection, respectively, coupled to the other of the sections, disengagement therebetween being achieved by the flexing of said hanger portion.

19. A garment hanger comprising a central section and, extending in substantially opposite directions and downwardly from the central section, a pair of arms for supporting a garment, each arm comprising first and second relatively slidable elongate sections, there being means for defining a plurality of extension positions wherein each said position is determined by a portion of the hanger defining a series of grooves or projections extending longitudinally along the associated arm and releasably engaged by a recess or projection respectively.

20. A garment hanger substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.