GB2459391A - Lengthwise adjustable garment hanger - Google Patents
Lengthwise adjustable garment hanger Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2459391A GB2459391A GB0909056A GB0909056A GB2459391A GB 2459391 A GB2459391 A GB 2459391A GB 0909056 A GB0909056 A GB 0909056A GB 0909056 A GB0909056 A GB 0909056A GB 2459391 A GB2459391 A GB 2459391A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- hanger
- resilient lever
- lever
- portions
- engagement recess
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
- A47G25/00—Household implements used in connection with wearing apparel; Dress, hat or umbrella holders
- A47G25/14—Clothing hangers, e.g. suit hangers
- A47G25/44—Slidable hangers ; Adjustable hangers
- A47G25/441—Slidable hangers ; Adjustable hangers having adjustable width
- A47G25/442—Slidable hangers ; Adjustable hangers having adjustable width to support shouldered garments
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
- A47G25/00—Household implements used in connection with wearing apparel; Dress, hat or umbrella holders
- A47G25/14—Clothing hangers, e.g. suit hangers
- A47G25/44—Slidable hangers ; Adjustable hangers
- A47G25/441—Slidable hangers ; Adjustable hangers having adjustable width
- A47G25/442—Slidable hangers ; Adjustable hangers having adjustable width to support shouldered garments
- A47G25/443—Slidable hangers ; Adjustable hangers having adjustable width to support shouldered garments comprising shoulder support arms or members being concurrently adjustable, e.g. by a rack and pinion mechanism
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
- A47G25/00—Household implements used in connection with wearing apparel; Dress, hat or umbrella holders
- A47G25/62—Trouser or skirt stretchers or tensioners of the hanger type
- A47G25/621—Trouser or skirt stretchers or tensioners of the hanger type for stretching or tensioning trouser leg ends or the trouser skirt waistband comprising gripping members being urged apart
- A47G25/622—Trouser or skirt stretchers or tensioners of the hanger type for stretching or tensioning trouser leg ends or the trouser skirt waistband comprising gripping members being urged apart at least one gripping member comprising an arm urged outwardly by a spring member
- A47G25/623—Trouser or skirt stretchers or tensioners of the hanger type for stretching or tensioning trouser leg ends or the trouser skirt waistband comprising gripping members being urged apart at least one gripping member comprising an arm urged outwardly by a spring member the hanger being adjustable to garment width
Abstract
An adjustable garment hanger comprises first and second portions 3,5,7,9 which are slidable relative to each other in a longitudinal direction of each thereof, and a releasable locking mechanism comprising a resilient lever (15,Fig.2) and an engagement recess (21,Fig.3), the resilient lever including a projection (19,Fig.2) for engaging with the recess. The lever is provided on one of the first and second portions, the lever extending in the longitudinal direction and being resiliently deflectable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The recess is provided on the other of the first and second portions, the recess extending in the perpendicular direction for receiving the projection of the resilient lever, the projection being releasable from the engagement recess by deflection of the resilient lever in the perpendicular direction.
Description
ADJUSTABLE GARMENT HANGER
This invention relates to an adjustable garment hanger.
Garment hangers are typically used by garment retailers in several different sizes which incurs undesirable costs due to the need to stock and recycle for re-use the different hangers. It is known from GB-A-2285746 to provide an garment hanger which can be adjusted by the application of force in the longitudinal direction of the hanger arms. While such an arrangement works well most of the time, the length of the hanger arms can occasionally change unexpectedly when a longitudinal force is unintentionally applied to the arm.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable garment hanger which overcomes or at least ameliorates the above problem.
According to the present invention there is provided an adjustable garment hanger comprising: first and second portions which are slidable relative to each other in a longitudinal direction of each thereof; and a releasable locking mechanism comprising a resilient lever and an engagement recess, the resilient lever including means for engaging with the engagement recess, wherein the resilient lever is provided on one of the first and second portions, the resilient lever extending in the longitudinal direction and being resiliently deflectable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and wherein the engagement recess is provided on the other of the first and second portions, the engagement recess extending in the perpendicular direction for receiving the engaging means of the resilient lever, the engaging means being releasable from the engagement recess by deflection of the resilient lever in the perpendicular direction.
The first and second portions may comprise a central body portion and adjustable arm portions received in the central body portion.
The resilient lever may be provided in a longitudinal slot formed in a surface of the respective first or second portion. The resilient lever may be provided in a surface, such as a lower surface, of the central body portion. The resilient lever may have a width less than the width of the longitudinal slot to allow lateral movement of the lever within the slot.
Alternatively, the resilient lever may extend from an end region of the respective first or second portion.
The resilient fever may be provided with a projecting portion which projects outwardly from the respective first or second portion, for resiliently deflecting the lever. The engaging means may comprise a further projecting portion of the resilient lever, the further projecting portion extending laterally of the lever. The further projecting portion may have a substantially rectangular cross-section.
The engagement recess may be substantially rectangular in cross-section. The engagement recess may be provided with sloping edges which rise towards the recess and increase the effective depth thereof. A plurality of engagement recesses may be provided, spaced in the longitudinal direction of the first and second portions.
Thus the present invention provides an adjustable garment hanger which is straightforward and relatively inexpensive to manufacture while being simple to operate, mechanically reliable and resistant to breakage.
For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure us a front elevational view of one embodiment of part of an adjustable garment hanger according to the present invention; Figure 2 is an inverted perspective view of part of a central portion of the adjustable garment hanger shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevational view from beneath of part of the adjustable garment hanger shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a front elevational view corresponding to part of Figure 1 on a larger scale; Figure 5 is an elevational view of another embodiment of an adjustable garment hanger according to the present invention; Figure 6 is a sectional view corresponding to the elevational view of Figure 5; and Figure 7 is a view from beneath of the adjustable garment hanger shown in Figure 5.
The adjustable garment hanger show in Figures 1 to 4 is incomplete in that it does not have a hook for attachment to a rack or the like. Nevertheless, the provision of a suitable hook, for example of metal or plastics material, is entirely straightforward and does not require any invention. The illustrated garment hanger comprises a central body portion 1, for example of plastics material, which is substantially an inverted U-shape in cross-section with part of the free ends of the inverted-U interconnected. However, the body portion I may have other configurations, such as substantially a C-shape in cross-section.
Consequently, the body portion is formed with two relatively short arm portions 3, 5 which are each open at the free end thereof. The arm portions 3, 5 may be straight or curved as desired.
An adjustable arm portion 7,9 is inserted into each open free end of the central body portion I and is provided with a releasable locking mechanism which will be explained in detail hereinafter. The adjustable arm portions 7, 9 may be straight or curved as desired, to conform to the configuration of the arm portions 3,5.
The lower surface 11 of the central body portion I joining the free ends of the inverted-U is formed with a longitudinal slot 13 in which there is formed a resilient lever 15. The resilient lever is formed integrally with the body portion 1 and is formed with a first projecting portion 17 which projects outwardly of the body portion 1 to enable engagement by an operator's thumb or the like for adjusting the exposed length of the adjustable arms 7, 9 (see, in particular, Figure 4). The resilient lever 15 is also provided with a second projecting portion 19 which projects laterally of the lever towards an inner face of one of the arms of the inverted-U for engaging with one of the adjustable arms 7, 9 as will be explained in more detail hereinafter. The lateral projecting portion 19 is substantially rectangular in cross-section but, as shown in Figure 2, that edge of the projecting portion 19 within the arms 3, 5 may be tapered to facilitate movement in a direction into the arm. The width of the resilient lever 15 is such as to allow lateral movement within the longitudinal slot 13 and to facilitate such movement the free end of the resilient lever may be tapered, particularly on that side thereof remote from the second projecting portion 19.
The adjustable arm portions 7, 9 are substantially U-shaped in cross-section and fit closely within the arm portions 3, 5 of the central body portion 1. One internal upright surface of each arm portion 7, 9 is formed with a plurality of recesses 21 which extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the respective adjustable arm portion, that is, substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the resilient lever 15 extends. Each recess 21 is dimensioned to receive the second projecting portion 19 of the resilient lever 15, that is each recess 21 may be substantially rectangular in cross-section. To facilitate engagement and retention of the second projecting portion 19 in the recess 21, each recess is formed with sloping edges 23, 25 which rise towards the recess 21 and effectively increase the depth of the recess. The extent of each recess 21 in the direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the respective arm portion is such that depression of the first projecting portion 17 of the resilient lever 15 by a user is able to disengage the second projecting portion 19 from the recess 21 so asto allow for ready adjustment of the adjustable arm portions 7, 9 relative to the arm portions 3, 5 of the central body portion 1.
In use of the adjustable garment hanger according to the present invention, the adjustable arm portions 7, 9 can be inserted longitudinally into the arm portions 3, 5 of the central body portion 1. As the adjustable arm portions are moved into the arm portions of the central body portion, the second projecting portion 19 of the resilient lever 15 rides up the sloping edge 23 of the first recess 21 and snaps into the recess to maintain the adjustable arm portion in a predetermined location relative to the arm portion of the central body portion. The adjustable arm portion can be moved to a different location by pressing on the first projecting portion 17 of the resilient lever 15 so as to move the second projecting portion 19 out of engagement with the recess 21 and the adjustable arm portion can be moved into or out of the arm portion of the central body portion as required to engage with a chosen recess 21 once the first projecting portion 17 is released. Thus, the exposed length of the adjustable arm portion 7, 9 may be adjusted the distance between adjacent recesses 21, or may be adjusted the distance between more than two adjacent recesses, making it easy to set in a high volume application of garments, that is in a garment manufacturing factory.
In this way the garment hanger can be adjusted to suit a particular garment.
Once the garment has been sold, the hanger is generally recycled for further use. To minimise storage space during recycling the first projecting portion 17 of each arm 3, 5 is depressed so as to move the second projecting portion out of engagement with the recess 21 and the adjustable arm portions 7, 9 can be moved into the arm portions 3, 5 of the central body portion 1 to minimise the exposed length of the adjustable arm portions, giving rise to a "compact configuration" for the garment hanger for re-packing and shipping. The hanger can then be adjusted once again to receive a garment to be transported to a retail premises for sale.
The adjustable garment hanger shown in Figures 5 to 7 is a modification of that shown in Figures 1 to 4 and the same references are used to denote the same or similar features.
In the adjustable garment hanger shown in Figures 5 to 7 the adjustable arm portion 7 is external of the arm portion 3 of the central body portion. The adjustable arm portion 7 is made, for example of plastics material, and is substantially an inverted-U shape in cross-section with part of the free ends of the inverted-U interconnected. However, the arm portion 7 may have other configurations, such as substantially a C-shape in cross-section.
The lower surface 27 of the adjustable arm portion 7 joining the free ends of the inverted-U is formed with a longitudinal slot 29 and an internal surface of the arm portion 7 within the region of the slot is formed with a plurality of recesses 31 which extend substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the arm portion.
The arm portion 3 of the central portion may be formed, for example, of wood or plastics material and is provided with a locking mechanism in the form of a resilient lever 33. The resilient lever may be formed integrally with the arm portion 3 where appropriate, but alternatively as illustrated the lever 33 may be provided as part of a separate member which is secured to an end region of the arm portion 3. The resilient lever 33 is formed with a first projecting portion 35 which projects outwardly of the central body portion 1 to enable engagement by an operator's thumb or the like for adjusting the overall length of the arm portions 3, 7 of the hanger. The resilient lever 33 is also provided with a second projecting portion 37 which projects laterally of the lever towards an inner face of the adjustable arm portion 7. The lateral projecting portion 37 is substantially rectangular in cross-section and may be tapered to facilitate movement into the arm as described and shown in relation to the previous embodiment. To facilitate flexing of the lever 33 the width of the lever may vary, for example taper, in the longitudinal direction of the lever, for example the lever having a greater dimension in a region closerto the projecting portions 35, 37 thereof than to the region where the lever is aftached to the ami portion 3.
Each recess 31 is dimensioned to receive the second projecting portion 37 of the resilient lever 33, that is each recess may be substantially rectangular in cross-section. The extent of each recess 31 in the direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the respective arm portion is such that depression of the first projecting portion 35 of the resilient lever 31 by a user is able to disengage the second projecting portion 37 from the recess 31 so as to allow for ready adjustment of the adjustable arm portion 7 relative to the arm portion 3 of the central body portion.
Claims (14)
- CLAIMS1. An adjustable garment hanger comprising: first and second portions which are slidable relative to each other in a longitudinal direction of each thereof; and a releasable locking mechanism comprising a resilient lever and an engagement recess, the resilient lever including means for engaging with the engagement recess, wherein the resilient lever is provided on one of the first and second portions, the resilient lever extending in the longitudinal direction and being resiliently deflectable in a direction substantially perpendicularto the longitudinal direction, and wherein the engagement recess is provided on the other of the first and second portions, the engagement recess extending in the perpendicular direction for receiving the engaging means of the resilient lever, the engaging means being releasable from the engagement recess by deflection of the resilient lever in the perpendicular direction.
- 2. A hanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second portions comprise a central body portion and adjustable arm portions received in the central body portion.
- 3. A hanger as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the resilient lever is provided in a longitudinal slot formed in a surface of the respective first or second portion.
- 4. A hanger as claimed in claim 3, wherein the resilient lever is provided in a surface of the central body portion.
- 5. A hanger as claimed in claim 4, wherein the resilient lever is provided in a lower surface of the central body portion.
- 6. A hanger as claimed in claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the resilient lever has a width less than the width of the longitudinal slot to allow lateral movement of the lever within the slot.
- 7. A hanger as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the resilient lever extends from an end region of the respective first or second portion.
- 8. A hanger as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the resilient lever is provided with a projecting portion which projects outwardly from the respective first or second portion, for resiliently deflecting the lever. -12-
- 9. A hanger as claimed in claim 8, wherein the engaging means comprises a further projecting portion of the resilient lever, the further projecting portion extending laterally of the lever.
- 10. A hanger as claimed in claim 9, wherein the further projecting portion has a substantially rectangular cross-section.
- 11. A hanger as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the engagement recess is substantially rectangular in cross-section.
- 12. A hanger as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the engagement recess is provided with sloping edges which rise towards the recess and increase the effective depth thereof.
- 13. A hanger as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a plurality of engagement recesses are provided, spaced in the longitudinal direction of the first and second portions.
- 14. An adjustable garment hanger substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.Amendments to the Claims have been filed as followsCLAIMS1. An adjustable garment hanger comprising: first and second portions which are slidable relative to each other in a longitudinal direction of each thereof; and a releasable locking mechanism comprising a resilient lever and an engagement recess, the resilient lever including means for engaging with the engagement recess, wherein the resilient lever is provided on one of the first and second portions, the resilient lever extending in the longitudinal direction and being resiliently deflectable in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the engaging means of the resilient lever comprising a portion extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal : direction and substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and * * *SSS **** wherein the engagement recess is provided on the other of the first and second portions, the engagement recess extending in the first direction for receiving the engaging means of the resilient lever, the engaging means being releasable *** S..* from the engagement recess by deflection of the resilient lever in the first direction.2. A hanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second portions comprise a central body portion and adjustable arm portions received in the central body portion.3. A hanger as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the resilient lever is provided in a longitudinal slot formed in a surface of the respective first or second portion.4. A hanger as claimed in claim 3, wherein the resilient lever is provided in a surface of the central body portion.5. A hanger as claimed in claim 4, wherein the resilient lever is provided in a lower surface of the central body portion.6. A hanger as claimed in claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the resilient lever has a width less than the width of the longitudinal slot to allow lateral movement of the lever within the slot.7. A hanger as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the resilient lever extends from an end region of the respective first or second portion.8. A hanger as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the resilient lever is provided with a projecting portion which projects outwardly from the respective first or second portion, for resiliently deflecting the lever.9. A hanger as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the engaging means has a substantially rectangular cross-section.10. A hanger as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the engagement recess is substantially rectangular in cross-section.11. A hanger as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the engagement recess is provided with sloping edges which rise towards the recess and increase the effective depth thereof.12. A hanger as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a plurality of engagement recesses are provided, spaced in the longitudinal direction of the first and second portions.13. An adjustable garment hanger substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings. S... * . *S S... * . *S** S... * IS S. *I * S * *..S.....
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0909056A GB2459391B (en) | 2009-05-27 | 2009-05-27 | Adjustable garment hanger |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0909056A GB2459391B (en) | 2009-05-27 | 2009-05-27 | Adjustable garment hanger |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0909056D0 GB0909056D0 (en) | 2009-07-01 |
| GB2459391A true GB2459391A (en) | 2009-10-28 |
| GB2459391B GB2459391B (en) | 2010-03-24 |
Family
ID=40863003
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0909056A Expired - Fee Related GB2459391B (en) | 2009-05-27 | 2009-05-27 | Adjustable garment hanger |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2459391B (en) |
Citations (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2573467A (en) * | 1950-06-07 | 1951-10-30 | Macaluso Alfred | Combined adjustable clothes hanger and pants holder |
| US3474943A (en) * | 1967-02-21 | 1969-10-28 | Frank Mcbain | Skirt hanger |
| EP0578370A1 (en) * | 1992-07-04 | 1994-01-12 | Mainetti (Uk) Ltd. | A garment hanger |
| GB2280364A (en) * | 1993-07-30 | 1995-02-01 | Ferguson Hangers Ltd | A garment hanger |
| US5520311A (en) * | 1994-07-11 | 1996-05-28 | Lam; Peter A.-F. | Garment hanger assembly kit |
| GB2298135A (en) * | 1995-02-23 | 1996-08-28 | Braitrim | Expanding garment hanger |
| GB2342853A (en) * | 1998-08-21 | 2000-04-26 | Nicholas Andrew Lewis | Adjustable garment hangers |
| GB2378128A (en) * | 2001-05-04 | 2003-02-05 | Mainetti | Expanding garment hanger |
-
2009
- 2009-05-27 GB GB0909056A patent/GB2459391B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2573467A (en) * | 1950-06-07 | 1951-10-30 | Macaluso Alfred | Combined adjustable clothes hanger and pants holder |
| US3474943A (en) * | 1967-02-21 | 1969-10-28 | Frank Mcbain | Skirt hanger |
| EP0578370A1 (en) * | 1992-07-04 | 1994-01-12 | Mainetti (Uk) Ltd. | A garment hanger |
| GB2280364A (en) * | 1993-07-30 | 1995-02-01 | Ferguson Hangers Ltd | A garment hanger |
| US5520311A (en) * | 1994-07-11 | 1996-05-28 | Lam; Peter A.-F. | Garment hanger assembly kit |
| GB2298135A (en) * | 1995-02-23 | 1996-08-28 | Braitrim | Expanding garment hanger |
| GB2342853A (en) * | 1998-08-21 | 2000-04-26 | Nicholas Andrew Lewis | Adjustable garment hangers |
| GB2378128A (en) * | 2001-05-04 | 2003-02-05 | Mainetti | Expanding garment hanger |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB0909056D0 (en) | 2009-07-01 |
| GB2459391B (en) | 2010-03-24 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20130527 |