GB2396551A

GB2396551A - Clothes hanger

Info

Publication number: GB2396551A
Application number: GB0229441A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Christopher Swinbank
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-12-18
Filing date: 2002-12-18
Publication date: 2004-06-30
Also published as: GB0229441D0

Abstract

A clothes hanger comprises 1 first and second carrier sections 12, 13 for supporting a garment when carried by the hanger, each carrier section having a first and a second end and a load bearing surface; a suspension means 14 for the hanger located at or near a centre of gravity for the article; the suspension means being attached to the first end of the first carrier means; and an extension section 11 extending between the second end of the first carrier section 12 and the first end 13' of the second carrier section 13, wherein the extension section 11 and the first carrier section 12 together define a blind ended re-entrant region 18 for the hanger which region has an open end 19 between the first end of the first carrier and the first end of the second carrier, which open end is directed towards the second carrier. The garment hanger is preferably made from a stainless steel or plastics rod. The hanger may be easily inserted into the neck opening of a garment [figure 4].

Description

CLOTHES HANGER

This invention relates to a clothes hanger. It is particularly concerned with a clothes hanger for use with a garment having an aperture through which a suspension means on the hanger, such as a hook, can project to enable the garment to be suspended, such as on a clothes rail, by means of the suspension means of the hanger. It is desirable that the suspended garment should readily placed on and removed from the hanger and to be able to hang securely and freely from the hanger.

According to the present invention there is provided a clothes hanger in the form of a generally longitudinal article made up of: first and second carrier sections for supporting a garment when carried by the hanger, each carrier section having a first and a second end and a load bearing surface; a suspension means for the hanger located at or near a centre of gravity of the hanger; the suspension means being attached to the first end of the first carrier means; an extension section extending between the second end of the first carrier section and the first end of the second carrier section; so that the extension section and the first carrier section together bound a blind ended re-entrant region for the hanger which region has an open end at or near a link between the second end of the first carrier and the first end of the second carrier, which open end is directed towards the second carrier.

According to a first preferred version of the present invention with the hanger hanging under its own weight by way of its suspension means the first carrier section is located above the extension section and the load bearing surfaces of the first and second support sections are symmetrically disposed about the suspension means relative to the horizontal.

According to a second preferred version of the present invention or of the first preferred version thereof the first and second carrier sections and the extension section are formed from rod like material.

tin' tIe: ItI. t. e':' According to third preferred version of the present invention or of any preceding preferred version thereof the suspension means comprises a hook shaped member.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing of which: Figure 1 is an example of a known form of coat hanger Figure 2; is a front view of a clothes hanger according to the present invention; and Figures 3 to 5 show the hanger of Figure 2 in use.

FIGURE 1

This shows a conventional hanger H intended for the support of a dress D. It is desirable that the dress D be supported symmetrically typically so that it hangs without creasing. In this case the dress D is characterized by a small neck aperture A for the neck of a wearer. The dress D has integral sleeve sections B1, B2 with relatively narrow arm outlets B1', B2'.

The hanger H has a suspension hook S and drape or support arms F1, F2. The hanger H has a substantial working width W. that is to say the height of the hanger which has to be inserted into aperture A of the dress D. Consequently it is not readily inserted into the dress D by way of neck aperture A without considerable distortion of the aperture A. If neck region N in the vicinity of aperture A of the dress D is relatively elastic then a degree of distortion could be acceptable. However if neck region N is not elastic typically because it is decorated, for example with embroidery, beads, plate like elements or ceramic components, then damage to the decoration could arise in attempting to insert conventional hanger H through aperture A. The dress D could be mounted by on the hanger H by inserting the hanger H through some other entry to the dress D, such as leg opening B. The hanger H is then caused to pass upwardly through the dress D until hook S projects through the neck aperture A. Hanger H' shows conventional hanger H when located within the dress D. The dress D hangs readily and symmetrically from drape arms F. However to readily undertake this operation involving the passing of the hanger H through the dress

tttI: t'' tt':' requires a degree of manipulative skill and time which may not be convenient or available. FIGURE 2

This shows a hanger 11 embodying the present invention. The hanger 11 is of unitary construction formed by bending a stainless steel rod of circular section. The hanger 11 is in the in the form of a generally longitudinal article made up of: a first carrier section 12 with support surface having a garment contact axis 12' and a second carrier section 13 with support surface having a garment contact axis 13'; a suspension means, in this case hook 14, having a foot 14' with which the contact axis 12', 13' intersect; an extension section 15 linking outboard end 16 of first carrier section 13 to inboard end 17 of second carrier section 13; the first carrier section 12 and extension section 15 together bound a blind ended re-

entrant region 18 for the hanger 11 which region has an open end 19 opposite to blind end 20.

Bend 21 between extension section 15 and the first carrier section 12 ensures that the first carrier section 12 and second carrier section 13 are symmetrically disposed relative to the hook 14.

The use of the newly proposed hanger 11 provides for readier utilization and for quicker garment hanging than is possible with a conventional hanger. This arises from the considerably reduced working width W of hanger 11 which effectively amounts to little more than the outside diameter of the rod from which hanger 11 is fabricated. FIGURES 3

This shows the first step involving the use of hanger 11 of Figure 2. The hanger 11 is turned vertically so that outside end 21 of the second carrier section 13 points into the aperture A with the open end 19 of blind ended aperture 18 directed towards edge A1

1, À: l; l l c; of aperture A. The second carrier section 13 is then passed into the dress D so that edge A1 of aperture A enters re-entrant region 18 by way of open end 19 to pass along the re-entrant region 18 until the edge A1 reaches end 20. As the second carrier section 13 passes into the interior of the dress D the hanger 11 can be progressively rotated about a horizontal axis to cause the second carrier section 13 (as viewed in Figure 3) to enter the general region of the sleeve B1. The first support section 12 of the hanger 11 is readily passed through the aperture A without causing distortion of the aperture A. FIGURES 4 AND 5

An insertion phase of hanger 11 is shown completed with the second carrier section 13 now wholly within the dress D. The final action is to slide the extension section 14 into the interior of sleeve B2 and to locate the hook 14 so that it protrudes through aperture A with the dress D suspended symmetrically from the first and second support section as shown in Figure 5.

The suspended dress can be located on a rail or other support to enable the dress D to hang free.

A dress can be readily removed from the hanger of the present embodiment by simply reversing the feeding in process described. Removal is readily achieved again without distorting the[art of the dress surrounding aperture A. In both the hanging and removal phases of use the hanger 11 is retained in hand to provide for ready manipulation of the hanger 11 as it is placed in or removed from the dress D. This contrasts with the use of a conventional hanger as described in connection with Figure 1 where the hanger H is inserted in the dress at a point remote from its final location. In such a situation the hanger has to be manipulated while shrouded in dress material.

The exemplary embodiment shows one version of the proposed hanger. Other shapes can be utilised and other materials (such as moulded plastics material) to provide hangers achieving the same outcome namely ready insertion and removal.

The proposed hanger can be readily equipped with indicators bearing information such as dress size, dress material, marketing or source information, identifiers, prices or whatever. Typically the indicator can be attached to the hook 14 so that the information conveyed is readily seen whether or not a dress or other article is supported on the hanger.

Claims

1 A clothes hanger in the form of a generally longitudinal article made up of: first and second carrier sections for supporting a garment when carried by the hanger, each carrier sections having a first and a second end and a load bearing surface; a suspension means for the hanger located at or near a centre of gravity for the article; the suspension means being attached to the first end of the first carrier means; an extension section extending between the second end of the first carrier section and the first end of the second carrier section; so that the extension section and the first carrier section together define a blind ended re- entrant region for the hanger which region has an open end at or near the link between the second end of the first carrier and the first end of the second carrier, which open end is directed towards the second carrier.

2 A clothes hanger as claimed in Claim 1 wherein, with the hanger hanging under

its own weight by way of the suspension means the first carrier section is located above the extension section and the load bearing surfaces of the first and second support sections are symmetrically disposed relative to the horizontal about the suspension means.

3 A clothes hanger as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the first and second carrier sections and the extension section are formed from rod like material.

4 A clothes hanger as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the suspension means is a hook shaped member.

5 A clothes hanger as hereinbefore described with reference Figures 1 and 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.