US20050184110A1

US20050184110A1 - Garment hanger covers

Info

Publication number: US20050184110A1
Application number: US11/051,598
Authority: US
Inventors: Stephen Berglund
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-02-05
Filing date: 2005-02-04
Publication date: 2005-08-25

Abstract

The present invention is a cover for a garment hanger that includes a body of arcuate form that drapes over the triangular base of a garment hanger. The cover has an opening in the center of the cover body to allow for the passage of the hook portion of a garment hanger, and widened ends for supporting the shoulders of a garment to prevent creasing. The hanger cover also has at least one stabilizing rib that protrudes in a downward direction from the hanger cover body to rest upon a downwardly angled arm of the garment hanger. For hanging strapped garments, the hanger cover has a pair of strap catch assemblies, each comprising a recessed section of the hanger cover, and an optional strap catch. The strap catch is hingedly attached to the distal end of the strap catch assembly, and may be closed to form a part of the surface of the recessed section so as not to interfere with the hanging or ordinary garments, but which may receive and protect a strap of a garment. The strap catch may alternatively be opened and extended in an upward direction to “catch” a strap of a garment and prevent it from sliding off the hanger cover, or closed over such a strap. A pair of fasteners at the outer ends of the hanger cover body fasten the hanger cover around the ends of the downwardly angled arms of the garment hanger.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to covers for garment hangers, more particularly to a new and improved cover for a traditional wire garment hanger which effectively enlarges the surface area of the hanger to eliminate creases, and which increases the speed and efficiency with which such hanger covers may be attached to the underlying wire hanger.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of wire hangers for hanging clothing is commonplace in the laundry, dry-cleaning and garment manufacturing industries. A typical wire hanger comprises a single length of wire which is bent into a generally triangular base having a hook portion extending upwardly from the base. Typically, the triangular base includes downwardly angled opposed arms which have proximal ends at the hook portion and are connected at their distal ends by a transverse portion.
Unfortunately, the use of a wire hanger for mounting a garment often results in the garment developing hanger marks from direct contact with the hanger and crease lines where the garment drapes on the arms of the hanger because of the sharp edges created by the relative thinness of the wire used to construct the wire hanger. Further, the bent ends of the wire hanger often cause creases near the garment's shoulders. Such marks are commonly known as “pinch creases” and occur if a garment remains on a hanger for a period of time. Since pinch creases disturb the freshly pressed look of a garment that has been professionally cleaned, devices have been developed to prevent the unsightly creases. In addition, dry cleaners are currently forced to buy a number of different wire hangers for different types of garments. Instead of purchasing a single style of wire hanger, most dry cleaners purchase traditionally shaped hangers, shirt hangers, pant hangers, and coat hangers. Shirt hangers vary from the traditional hangers in that the proximal ends of the downwardly angled portion of their opposed arms are bent more acutely, in relation to where the collar of a dress shirt rests on the hanger to better conform the shape of a dress shirt. Many dry cleaners also purchase coat hangers, which are hangers of a larger size, and larger gage wire for holding heavier objects. Pant hangers use an adhesive device on the transverse portion of the hanger to keep the garment hanging on the transverse portion from slipping off. Dry cleaners or other clothing oriented businesses can increase efficiency by eliminating the need for multiple types of hangers, by the use of one hanger for multiple purposes.
Aside from different hangers, many dry cleaners are also required to purchase other hanger accessories. For garments such as apparel with straps, many dry cleaners purchase foam covers for hangers. The foam provides adequate friction as to keep the straps from sliding off of the side of downwardly opposed arms of the triangular base of the hanger. The foam covers must be placed on the hanger for use, which can be difficult due to the elastic nature of the foam. Therefore, much time is lost placing the foam cover on the hanger.
It has long been known to provide the wire hanger with a cover to prevent direct contact between the garment and the hanger itself to reduce hanger marks. It is also desirable for the cover to create a surface that is wider and more rounded than the hanger to prevent creasing of the garment from the sharp edges of the wire hanger. The shape of the cover preferably simulates the shape of the general shoulder area of a human torso, so that the garment draped over the cover will have a more natural appearance when removed from the hanger. To this end, the sides of the cover are preferably directed outwardly, away from the hanger.
Many hanger covers constructed out of paper or cardboard are well known in the art. Previous covers have addressed one or more of the problems associated with the use of wire hangers and covers for wire hangers. However, the known previous covers have one or more undesirable characteristics. Some covers are directed solely to protecting the garment from contacting the hanger and do not address any of the other problems associated with hanger covers. Other covers, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,434,461 address only the problem of providing a surface rounded and made wider to eliminate creasing.
More recent covers attempt to provide a wider and more rounded surface along with sides that extended away from the hanger for maintaining a more natural shape for the garment mounted on the hanger. These covers comprise a one-piece card stock having a slot extending from one end to a central aperture through which the hook portion of the hanger passes. The slot is closed by a slot and tongue fastener to secure the hanger. These covers require a great amount of assembly time by the user because of the slot-and-tongue fastener. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 2,873,054. It is also known to replace the slot and tongue fastener of a cover made out of a cardboard blank with an adhesive. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 3,117,706. While these hangers overcome problems associated with creasing due to hanging garment directly on the hanger, other problems arise due to the use of such hanger covers. First, the hanger covers take significant time to place on the hanger correctly. This can amount in higher labor costs due to the time wasted by having employees placing many hanger covers on hangers. Additionally, due to the lack of rigidity of the hanger covers, the paper hanger covers have a propensity to be unstable and either come undone or fall off the hanger. Many times hanger covers can come undone while the garment is still on the hanger, which can then create further creasing or folds in the garment due to the failure of the hanger cover.
In addition it is to be noted that pinch creases are created by all types of hangers, not just wire hangers. Therefore hanger covers are also important for use on all hangers including hangers constructed out of wood, plastic, etc.
It is therefore desirable to provide an affordable and convenient to use hanger cover capable of creating a soft round drape to prevent pinch creases which can be used for any type of garment, and that has the ability to hang strapped garments from while eliminating the need for an array of different hangers and hanger covers for each specific use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an easy to use garment hanger cover that will economically and efficiently solve any problems with pinch creases caused from hanging clothes. The cover is designed to easily slip over the hanger and rest over the edges of the wire hanger. The cover is designed to provide a soft round drape over the wires of the hanger, thereby eliminating any “pinch creases” created by the acute angles the garment is subjected to when hung directly on a hanger. In addition, the hanger has retractable strap catches thereby allowing the hanger to function for use as a traditional hanger and to prevent creases, or in the alternative, allow the hanging of strapped garments from the hanger cover.
The hanger cover is created from one elongate piece of economical but durable material. The material can be, but is not limited to, various forms of plastic, fabric or synthetic material. The cover has an opening in the center of the hanger to allow the hook of the wire hanger to pass through the cover so that the cover can rest in contact with the downwardly angled arms of the hanger. At about the center of the cover, there is the opening for the hook of the hanger to pass through. This opening runs in a longitudinal direction with the hanger, and is large enough for the hook of the hanger to pass through. In addition, the opening is wide enough to allow the hook and the portion of wire that is wound around the neck to pass through. At the center of the cover hanger two vertical slits can be made in the body of the hanger to allow the hanger cover to bend to the approximate angle required for proper positioning of the hanger on the downwardly angled arms of the hanger.
The elongate arms of the hanger cover have an arcuate curve throughout the length of the hanger cover. The larger curve of the hanger cover compared to the hanger wire prevents the pinching and/or creasing of the garment when hung on the hanger, thereby eliminating unsightly creases and folds in garments. The arcuate curve is great enough to prevent the sharp folding of the garment over the downwardly opposed arms of the hanger, but not too great as to take up an uneconomically large space. This allows the hanger covers to be used in closets and on dry-cleaning apparatus without excessively limiting the number of garments that can be hung in such an area. In a preferred embodiment, the radius of the arcuate curvature should be around one-half (½) inch (diameter of 1 inch).
In addition, the hanger covers can have a more vertically angled section near the apex of the hanger to accommodate for the collar of many garments. For garments, such as collared dress shirts, the collar extends from shoulder region of the shirt at a much greater angle. The arcuate curvature of the hanger cover continues through this portion, to further prevent folding or pinching in the collar area of the shirt.
Along the length of the hanger covers, stabilizing ribs extend downward within hanger cover to create contact points along the downwardly angled portions of the hanger to stabilize the hanger cover on the hanger. The stabilizing ribs can be created by the folding of the hanger cover material, or extra hanger cover material can be attached to the bottom side of the arcuate curve. The stabilizing ribs need not extend a great distance, but need to create enough space between the hanger cover and the downward opposed arm of the hanger to allow a cavity for the strap catch to extend downward without interference from the downwardly angled hanger wire.
The hanger cover has one or more stabilizing ribs for adequate stabilization of the hanger cover on the hanger. In the preferred embodiment, the hanger cover has two stabilizing ribs on each side of the hanger, one above and one below the strap catch, to provide adequate stability.
The hanger cover has a strap catch assembly on each side of the hanger cover. The strap catch assembly consists of a strap catch cavity, which is a downward dip in the arcuate form of the hanger cover. A retracted strap catch resides in the bottom edge of the strap catch assembly, which does not come in contact with the garment when retracted, and thereby allows a normal garment to be placed on the hanger without deforming the garment in any way. The strap catch can be extended upward through the application of force from beneath the strap catch. The strap catch is connected to the distal edge of the strap catch assembly, and when extended creates a strap catch from the surface of the strap catch cavity and the extension of the strap catch. The strap catch can be retracted and placed back within the strap catch cavity of the hanger cover if the hanger is to be used for draping a garment over the body of the hanger in a normal fashion. The hanger cover has two strap catches, one on each side, for the placement of straps on the hanger cover. Though this process the hanger cover can function interchangeably hang either normal garments or strapped garments with little effort.
At the outside ends of the hanger cover, the cover flares out to allow a snap or Velcro assembly to be folded over the hanger and clasped together to fixedly attach the hanger cover to the hanger. The hanger cover is wrapped around the triangular portion of the hangers so that the hanger encompasses the downwardly angled arm and the corners of the transverse portion of the base of the hanger before being clasped together. The fastening means include but are not limited to, staples, a Velcro attachment device, snaps, hooks, clips or ties.
The hanger cover is assembled on the hanger through the process of placing the hook of the hanger through the opening of the hanger cover. Then the sides on the hanger cover are fixed in place by fixing the snaps or Velcro (hooks & loops) for the hanger cover below the transverse portion of the triangular base of the hanger. This is done by placing the thumb and index finger over the top of the hanger cover and compressing the fastening means. When both fastening means are closed on each end of the hanger cover, the hanger cover is attached to the hanger in a stable manner and a garment can then be placed thereon. If a strapped garment is to then be hung from the hanger cover upward pressure can be applied to the strap catch assemblies, thereby forcing the strap catch to an upward position.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a wide round drape for engagement with a garment hanger to prevent pinch creases on garments hung thereon.
It is also an important object of the invention to provide a hanger cover with optional means to hang a garment from the hanger by creating stops so that garment straps do not slip off the hanger.
It is a further important object of the invention to provide a hanger cover that is universal in nature, and can be used with any type of garment so additional hanger or hanger accessories are not needed.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a hanger cover that is economical to create and manufacture, and is convenient and easily attached to a hanger to reduce labor costs involved with other hanger covers and other methods of hanging clothes.
It is another object of the invention to provide a strap catch holder on a garment hanger cover that holds a garment strap in a cavity within the cover below the surface of the cover.
It is a further important object of the invention to provide a strap catch on a garment hanger in which the catch itself remains above and away from the dress strap so as to prevent damage to the dress.
Additional objects of the invention will be apparent from the detailed descriptions and the claims herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. A is a side view of one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. B is a top view of one embodiment of the present invention wherein the hanger is in the closed position.
FIG. C is a partial view of an end of the hanger cover in the closed position of one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. D is a partial view of an end of the hanger cover in the open position of one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. E is a view of the underside of the center portion of the hanger cover of one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. F is a partial view of a strap catch assembly wherein the strap catch is in the closed position of one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. G is a partial view of the strap catch assembly wherein the strap catch is in an open position of one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. H is a top view of one embodiment of the present invention wherein the hanger is in the open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and referring particularly to FIG. A, it is seen that the invention includes a hanger cover body 1, which is an elongate piece of material fitted to extend the length of the downwardly angled opposed sides of a hanger. The hanger body 1 has one or more stabilizing ribs 2 that come in contact with and support the hanger cover on the downwardly opposed arms of the hanger. As shown in the preferred embodiment, the stabilizing ribs 2 are found on each side of the strap cavity 3. The surface of the hanger cover body is curved, and the peak of the curve runs parallel to, and above, the top of the downwardly angled opposed arms of the hanger. The top of the hanger cover is formed at a more acute angle 4 to conform to the collar of a standard dress shirt. At the center of the hanger cover, an opening 9 allows the hook of the hanger 10 to pass through the hanger body 1, thereby allowing the hanger to rest on the downwardly angles opposed arms of the hanger.
In one embodiment, one or more strap catch assemblies, or strap cavities 3, may be provided on each side of the hanger cover body. Each strap catch assembly 3 includes a cavity that is cut out of the hanger cover 1 thereby allowing clothing straps to be placed on the hanger without deformation or creasing of the garment. Through upward pressure the strap catch 6 can be upwardly extended from the strap catch assembly in an open position, thereby creating an upwardly protruding interruption or hook in the surface of the cover which can be used to prevent straps of a garment from sliding down the cover. See FIG. G. Accordingly, the hanger is capable of hanging clothes in a traditional manner or hanging strapped clothes by extending the strap catches in an upward direction.
The hanger cover body 1 is fixedly attached to the hanger 13 by the use of snaps, interengaging hooks and loops, or other fastening devices. As shown in Figs. C and D, the ends 7 of the hanger cover body 1 flare outward and contain snap assemblies 8. Due to the extra width of the end 7 of the hanger cover body 1, the snaps 8 connect beneath the transverse section 11 of the hanger 13. As such, the hanger wraps around the ends of the downwardly opposed angled sections 13 and the transverse section of the hanger. It is important to note that the ends of the hanger cover body still keep an arcuate form to prevent the pinching or creasing of clothing.
Referring to FIG. B, the top arcuate surface of the hanger cover body 1 is shown. It is to be appreciated that the invention is not limited to any exact angle of curvature but to any generally arcing shape. In addition as shown in Fig B, the side surfaces 15 of the hanger cover body can be slightly angled, or straight without altering the scope and function of the invention. The figure also shows the strap catches 6 in their downward closed position. As shown the strap catches 6, when in the downward position are completely enclosed in the strap catch cavity, and may be used to hold a garment strap in place, or they may simply be closed so that they are out of the way and do not catch on any garment that is hung on the cover.
It is to be appreciated that different versions of the invention may be made from different combinations of the various features described above. In particular, any number of light weight durable materials can be used to make the hanger covers. It is also appreciated that the curvature of the hanger body and the placement of the stabilizing ribs and strap catch assemblies can vary and would not exceed the scope of the invention. It is to be understood that other variations and modifications of the present invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof. It is also to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited by the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but only in accordance with the appended claims when read in light of the foregoing specification.

Claims

1. A garment hanger cover comprising:

a. a body having arcuate form which affixes to a triangular base of a garment hanger;

b. an opening in the center of the body to allow for the passage of a hook portion of a garment hanger;

c. at least one stabilizing rib protruding in a downward direction from the hanger cover body that rests upon a downwardly angled arm of the garment hanger;

d. a pair of strap catch assemblies, each assembly comprising a recessed section of the hanger cover and a catch which forms part of the surface of the recessed section, said catch being hingedly attached at a downstream end of the recessed section;

e. a fasteners at each of the two outer ends of the body which fasten the body around a garment hanger so that the ends of the body wrap around the downwardly angled arms and a transverse portion of the triangular base of the garment hanger.

2. The garment hanger cover of claim 1 wherein the strap catches are recessed from a distal end of the recessed portion of the strap catch assembly.

3. The garment hanger cover of claim 2 wherein the strap catches are upwardly extended from the hinged attachment creating a surface for hanging strapped garments comprising a strap hanging surface comprising the recessed portion of the strap catch assembly and the upwardly extended strap catch.

4. The garment hanger cover of claim 3 wherein a stabilizing rib is positioned on each side of the strap catch assemblies.

5. The garment hanger cover of claim 4 wherein the fastening means are a pair of snaps are formed of the same material as the hanger cover.

6. The garment hanger cover of claim 4 wherein the hanger cover body is no more than one inch wide when fastened to the hanger.

7. The garment hanger cover of claim 6 wherein the hanger cover body extends at least one half (½) inch past the distal ends of the hanger.

8. A cover for a garment hanger comprising an elongated body having rounded opposite ends and a central opening for receiving a hook of said hanger, a fastener at each of said ends for fastening said body against itself and around corresponding ends of said hanger, and at least one strap catch along said body, each such strap catch including a recess and a hingedly attached flap adjacent to said recess.

9. The cover of claim 8 wherein said flap alternates between a closed position where it is inserted into said recess, and an open position where it extends upwardly from said body.

10. The cover of claim 8 wherein at least one rib is provided in said body interposed between said body and said hanger.