GB2319172A - Clothes hanger - Google Patents

Abstract

A clothes hanger 2 comprising a clothing support member 6 and a hook 8 attached at the upper end thereof in a generally central position to enable the clothes hanger to be suspended from a support bar (not shown) having a generally oval or vertically extended circular cross-section, the hook 8 comprising a hooked portion the shape of which is configured so as to restrain the clothes hanger from rotational movement relative to the support bar. In the embodiment described, the hook consists of two parallel vertical sections which are connected together by a curved section 14 such that the shape of the inner periphery of the hooked portion is substantially the same as a portion of the cross-section of the support bar.

Description

CLOTHES HANGER This invention relates to a clothes hanger for supporting and storing clothing and the like.

Known methods for storing clothing and the like include simple arrangements comprising shelves, upon which the clothing is laid, and rails and racks, over which the clothing is draped. Although such methods have been successfully used for a very long time, they do not take full advantage of the space available and can result in clothing becoming creased and deteriorating in condition unless special care is taken.

A well known method of supporting and storing clothing involves the use of a support bar from which independent clothes hangers are hung. Such hangers comprise a means for supporting the clothing thereon and a hook which hooks around the bar to allow the hanger to be suspended therefrom. This system has the advantage that separate items of clothing can be moved from one part of the bar to another by simply sliding the hangers as required, thus enabling easy access to any part of the bar in order to remove any hangers therefrom or to place any hangers thereon. However, whilst moving such hangers around it is not uncommon for them to fall from the support bar onto the ground, or to swing excessively, thereby allowing clothing to fall to the ground. Under such circumstances clothing might typically become creased and suffer some deterioration in condition.

Furthermore, when removing clothing from such a clothes hanger it is necessary to remove the hanger from the support bar first, especially if only one hand is being used, otherwise the hanger and/or clothing almost invariably falls to the ground as the hanger is caused to swing excessively on the support bar. It is also extremely difficult to place a garment on such a hanger without removing the hanger first, especially where only one hand is to be used.

We have now devised an arrangement which overcomes the problems outlined above.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a clothes hanger comprising a support member and a suspension member for suspending the clothes hanger from a support bar having a generally oval or vertically extended circular cross-section, the suspension member comprising a hooked portion the shape of which is configured to restrain the clothes hanger from rotational movement relative to said support bar.

Thus, the present invention provides a clothes hanger which enables storage of clothing and the like in a manner that is economical on space, allows easy access to clothing stored thereon, and provides a means of support for the items stored that is more stable than known methods. The probability that the stored items will become creased or soiled by preventing excessive swinging of the clothes hanger on a support bar is eliminated, thereby reducing the probability of the items becoming displaced from their respective hangers, or of the hangers themselves falling to the ground due to lateral swinging. Also, the clothes hanger of the present invention enables the user to place a garment thereon, or remove a garment therefrom, whilst it is suspended from the support bar, even if only one hand is used. A further advantage of the clothes hanger of the present invention is that it is suitable for use with a conventional support bar, such as that provided in wardrobes and the like, provided the cross-section of the support bar is of a small enough diameter to fit into the hooked portion.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hooked portion of the suspension member comprises two parallel vertical sections connected together at one end, preferably by means of a curved section so as to form a generally inverted Ushaped hooked portion. One of the vertical sections is preferably longer than and most preferably twice as long as, the other, and may be formed at its lower end with a neck portion, the end of which is connected to the support member. The neck portion is preferably configured such that the end which is connected to the support member is aligned with the centre of the hooked portion, so as to improve the overall stability of the clothes hanger and ensure that it hangs straight on the support member.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a clothes hanger according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which is particularly suitable for supporting and storing gentlemen's clothing; FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of a clothes hanger according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which is particularly suitable for supporting and storing ladies' clothing; FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view of one type of conventional support bar with which the hanger of the present invention may be used; and FIGURES 4A to 4C are partial schematic views of the clothes hanger of the present invention when in use, showing the way in which the hanger can be lifted from the support bar.

With reference to Figure 1 of the drawings, a clothes hanger 2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a clothes hanger frame 4 consisting of a clothing support member 6 of a generally triangular configuration, and a hook 8 attached at the upper end thereof in a generally central position in order to enable the hanger 2 to be suspended from a support bar 30 of a generally oval or vertically extended circular cross-section, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. The support bar may be constructed of any suitably rigid material, for example, metal.

The support member 6 shown in Figure 1, although of a generally triangular configuration, is provided with gently curving portion 10 at its apex for ease of manufacture and aesthetic purposes. However, the support member 6 may have any generally triangular configuration suitable for supporting clothing and the like, and its particular formation is not considered to form part of the present invention.

The hook 8 comprises a hooked portion 12 of a substantially inverted U-shaped configuration, consisting of two substantially parallel vertical sections which are connected at their upper ends by a curved section 14. One of the vertical sections is extended downward so as to form an elongate section 16. The end of the elongate section 16 is joined to the support member 6, such that the hook 8 is attached to (or formed integrally with) the upper end of the support member 6 in a substantially central position, as shown. In a preferred embodiment, the elongate section 16 is formed at its lower end with a generally inwardly curved neck portion 18, the end of which is joined to the support member 6 in the substantially central position such that the centre of the hooked portion 12 is aligned with the substantially central position, and the stability of the clothes hanger when it is suspended from a support bar is greatly increased.

In use, a garment is draped over at least a portion of the support member 6 and the clothes hanger is suspended on an oval or vertically extended circular cross-sectional support bar by means of the hook 8. With the arrangement of the present invention, it is possible to slide the clothes hanger from one part of the support bar to another.

However, stability is provided to the suspension of the clothes hanger in a direction laterally of the support bar by the two substantially vertical sections of the hook 8.

Thus, the clothes hanger is prevented from swinging laterally around the support bar, i.e. rotational movement of the clothes hanger relative to the support bar is substantially reduced or even prevented by the action of the two vertical sections against the sides of the support bar, such that the hanger is prevented from becoming inadvertently disengaged from the support bar. As a result of the extra stability, it is easy to remove clothing from, and place clothing on, the clothes hanger single-handedly without the hanger flipping off the bar and onto the floor. This is particularly useful where clothes are required to be changed quickly and quietly, for example, back stage in a theatre.

Referring to Figures 4A to 4C of the drawings, the hook 8 is placed over the support bar 30 such that the hanger is suspended therefrom. Both of the vertical sections of the hook 8 are preferably in contact with the support bar 30, as shown in Figure 4A. The longer vertical section is sufficiently long, preferably twice as long as the other vertical section, such that when the hanger is lifted vertically relative to the support bar, as shown in Figure 4B, it can be completely removed therefrom, as shown in Figure 4C.

In any event, there must be enough space between the top of the support bar and the end of the shorter vertical section, when the hanger is lifted, to enable the hanger to be disengaged from the support bar, as shown. Thus, the configuration of the hook 8 is such that the hanger can easily slide along the support bar and can also be removed completely therefrom, but when the hanger is suspended from the bar it is prevented from rocking sideways, i.e. rotational movement relative to the support bar is restrained.

The clothes hanger of the present invention would normally be made from metal.

However, any suitably rigid material having similar mechanical properties may be used instead, for example, plastics or wood. The clothes hanger 2 may be constructed as a single piece or may be constructed from a number of individual components.

Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, a clothes hanger according to a second embodiment of the present invention is similar in many respects to that shown in Figure 1. In particular, the hook 8 has substantially the same configuration. However, in this case, the "shoulders" 20 of the support member 6 are narrower, and are provided with notches 22 for carrying garments such as skirts. Thus the clothes hanger shown in Figure 2 of the drawings has a support member 6 which is more suitable for supporting and storing ladies' clothing.

Thus, the present invention is provided with means for preventing the clothes hanger from swinging laterally of the support bar from which it is suspended, thereby greatly increasing the stability of the suspension of the clothing thereon. This reduces the incidence of clothing falling to the ground and becoming damaged, without making inefficient use of available space. Due to the increased stability described above the present invention enables clothing and the like to be easily removed from, or placed upon, the hanger whilst it is still suspended from the support bar; this is particularly important where only one hand is being used because it is not necessary to provide extra support to the hanger with a second hand, or to remove the hanger from the support bar completely. Furthermore, the configuration of the hanger according to the present invention enables it to be used with any conventionally shaped support bar, such as the type which is provided in a wardrobe.

Many variations are possible within the scope of the present invention, of which the above are merely specific examples. For example, in the above embodiments, the neck portion 18 and the clothes hanger frame 4 lie in substantially the same plane.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS:

1. A clothes hanger comprising a support member and a suspension member for suspending the clothes hanger from a support bar having a generally oval or vertically extended circular cross-section, the suspension member comprising a hooked portion the shape of which is configured to restrain the clothes hanger from rotational movement relative to the support bar.

2. A clothes hanger according to claim 1, wherein the hooked portion of the suspension member comprises two parallel vertical sections connected together at one end.

3. A clothes hanger according to claim 2, wherein the vertical sections are connected together by means of a curved section so as to form a generally inverted Ushaped hook.

4. A clothes hanger according to claims 2 or 3, wherein one of the vertical sections is longer than the other, to the extent that the hanger can be vertically lifted relative to the support bar and subsequently disengaged therefrom.

5. A clothes hanger according to claim 4, wherein one of the vertical sections is approximately twice as long as the other.

6. A clothes hanger according to claims 4 or 5 wherein the longer vertical section is formed at its lower end with a neck portion, the end of which is connected to the support member.

7. A clothes hanger according to claim 6, wherein the neck portion is configured such that the end which is connected to the support member is aligned with the centre of the portion of the hook connecting the two vertical sections.

8. A clothes hanger substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A clothes hanger comprising a support member and a suspension member for suspending the clothes from a support bar having a generally oval or vertically extended circular cross-section, the suspension member comprising a hooked portion the shape of the inner periphery of which is substantially the same as at least a portion of the crosssection of the support bar so as to restrain the clothes hanger from rotational movement relative to the support bar.