IES81119B2

IES81119B2 - A clothes hanger

Info

Publication number: IES81119B2
Authority: IE
Inventors: Paul Jevens; Ann Jevens
Original assignee: Paul Jevens; Ann Jevens
Priority date: 1998-06-24
Filing date: 1998-06-24
Publication date: 2000-03-22
Also published as: IES980509A2; EP0966908B1; EP0966908A1; DE69913436D1

Abstract

The invention discloses a clothes hanger (50), in particular an adjustable clothes hanger for displaying garments in a shop or for hanging garments during storage. The hanger (50) can be used for various types of garments and is not restricted to one size. The hanger (50) comprises a centrally located hook (25), a main body (4) consisting of a back element (6) and a cover (9) and two side elements (3,8) and a pawl (7) adapted to lock one of two movable arms (17, 21) in one direction only. Each of the arms (17, 21) has a rack (18, 22) engageable with a pinion (16) mounted on a spud (11) which is part of the main body part (4). The main body (4) is manufactured by injection moulding in one piece and also includes a press-fit securing means and a support (1) for a hook (25).

Description

A CLOTHES HANGER The present invention relates to an adjustable clothes hanger for displaying garments in a shop or for hanging garments during storage. The hanger can be used for various types of garments and is not restricted to one size.

According to the present invention a garment hanger comprises a centrally located hook, a main body consisting of two wall sections and a top and base, the base being hinged at both connections with the wall sections to form a support enclosure for two movable arms having racks therein, a centrally located pinion wheel engageable with the racks and a locking means adapted to lock the movable arms in one direction only.

Advantageously the main body is manufactured by injection moulding in one piece. The two side walls, the top and base, a spud for the pinion and locking device are all incorporated in one part. A press-fit securing means and a support for a hook are also included in the main body.

The gear wheel or pinion is attached to the main body via the spud and rotates in a plane parallel to the two wall sections.

The movable arms have toothed racks on their horizontal surface which engage with the pinion or gear wheel in order to produce equal movement of each arm in either direction as a result of the movement of one arm. The lower arm also has a toothed rack on its vertical surface to engage with a locking mechanism. The movable arms can have different types of locating elements on their end portion to hold the garments in place.

The locking means is an integral part of the main body provided in the form of a pawl. The pawl is permanently in contact with the toothed rack on the lower movable arm. It prevents the reduction in overall length of the hanger and can be disengaged by pressing the upper portion of the lever.

The press-fit securing means is provided by clips on the top surface and coupling interference fit holes on the adjacent position of the closing wall.

Conveniently, when the hanger main body is closed there are no holes remaining on the body of the hanger thus reducing the risk of children getting fingers injured or caught in the holes.

The invention will hereinafter be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example only, one embodiment according to the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is an open elevation rear view of the main body; Figure 2 is a section view through the centre of the main body along the line A-A; Figure 3 is a section view through the main body along the line B-B; Figure 4 is a top plan view of the hook support; Figure 5 is a section view along the line C-C; Figures 6 to 9 are detail views of one part of the press-fit assembly; Figure 6 is an elevation view thereof; Figure 7 is a top plan view thereof; Figure 8 is a bottom plan view thereof; Figure 9 is a section view A-A thereof; Figures 10 to 13 are detail views of one part of the press-fit assembly; Figure 10 is an elevation view thereof; Figures 11,12 and 13 are section views thereof along lines C-C, A-A and B-B, respectively; Figure 14 is an elevation view of the pinion wheel; Figure 15 is a section view through the centre of the wheel; Figure 16 is an elevation view of one moveable arm; Figure 17 is a section view along the lines A-A of the movable arm; Figure 18 is a section view along the line B-B of the movable arm; Figure 19 is an elevation view of the second movable arm; Figure 20 is a top plan view of a section of the movable arm; Figure 21 is a section view along the line C-C of the second arm; Figure 22 is an elevation view of the complete hanger with the rear wall of the main body removed; Figure 23 is a section view along the line A-A of the complete hanger, and Figure 24 is section view along the line B-B of the complete hanger.

With reference to the drawings and initially to Figure 22, assembled hanger 50 comprises a main body part 4 and a pair of movable arms 17 and 21 which can be extended or retracted to vary the length of the hanger 50. Each of the arms 17,21 has a rack 18,22 which are engageable with a pinion 16 mounted on a spud 11 which is part of the main body part 4. A hook 25 is provided on the main body part to act as the hook for the assembled hanger.

Referring to Figure 1 the main body part 4 is moulded in one piece and comprises a front wall 6 connected to a base section 8 by a hinge 8a. The base section 8 is in turn connected by a hinge 8b to a rear wall 9. A top section 3 is provided at the edge of the front wall 6 remote from the base section.

Figures 1-5 show the support 1 for the hook 25 and the adjoining display plate 2 incorporated into the top section 3 of the main body 4 of the hanger. The top section 3 also houses clips 5 of the press-fit assembly. The front wall section 6 houses a pawl 7 for engagement and disengagement with a movable arm, and is hinged with a base section 8.

A second hinge 8bon the base section 8 is connected to the rear wall section 9. The rear wall 9 houses the interference fit holes 10 of the press-fit assembly.

Figure 2 shows spud section 11 used to support pinion wheel 16 and support web 12 for the display plate 2. Figure 4 shows the support 13 for the hook 25. Figure 5 shows the front wall section 6 and the teeth 14 of the pawl 7. Figure 7 shows the clips 15 used to secure the main body 4 around the movable arms. Figure 10 shows the corresponding interference fit hole 10. Figure 14 shows the geared wheel 16 that fits onto the spud 11.

Figure 16 shows the movable arm 17 with the toothed rack 18 to engage with the pinion wheel 16. The open ring section 19 engages the garments. As the garments stretch the ring 19 expands to keep the garment display neat. Support ribs 20 are incorporated along the movable arms 17,21. Figure 17 shows a section of the movable arm 17 which has two I-Beam sections 24 to provide lateral stability for the garments.

Figure 19 shows the bottom movable arm 21 with a series of ridges 23 on the surface of one side. This series of ridges 23 engages with the locking pawl 7. Figure 20 shows the same feature 22 from above.

To assemble a hanger 50, pinion wheel 16 is placed on the spud 11 and two arms 17,21 are engaged with the pinion wheel 16. The rear wall 9 of the main body part 4 is then folded about the hinges 8a, 8b and locks with the top section 3 by means of clips 5 engaging with the interference fit holes 10. To extend the arms 17,21 a user pulls either arm and the other extends a corresponding amount. To contract the arms 17,21 the user first presses the pawl 7 so as to disengage the locking teeth 14 from the series of ridges 23 and then pushes one of the arms 17,21 towards the main body part 4.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various alterations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

MACLACHLAN & DONALDSON Applicants’ Agents 47 Merrion Square DUBLIN 2.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. A garment hanger comprising a centrally located hook, a main body consisting of two wall sections, a top and a base, the base being hinged along both of its longitudinal edges with the wall sections to form a support enclosure for two movable arms having racks therein, a centrally located pinion wheel engageable with the racks and a locking means adapted to lock the movable arras in one direction only.

2. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body is an injected moulded piece including the two wall sections, the top and base, a spud for the pinion wheel and a locking device.

3. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pinion wheel is attached to the main body via the spud and rotates in a plane parallel to the two wall sections, the movable arms having toothed racks on a first surface which engage with the pinion wheel in order to produce equal movement of each arm in either direction as a result of the movement of one arm, one arm having a toothed rack on a second surface to engage with the locking means.

4. A garment hanger as claimed in any of the preceeding claims, wherein the locking means is an integral part of the main body provided in the form of a pawl and is permanently in contact with the toothed rack on one movable arm thereby preventing the reduction in overall length of the hanger and is disengageable by pressing an upper portion of a lever.

5. A garment hanger substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.