US20080093397A1

US20080093397A1 - Full Size Hanger

Info

Publication number: US20080093397A1
Application number: US11/467,663
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert M. Manners
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-08-28
Filing date: 2006-08-28
Publication date: 2008-04-24

Abstract

A full size hanger is a garment hanger specially designed for large clothing items. A full size hanger is unique in three material ways. First, the length of the hanger is longer than other hangers in order to ensure that large clothes fit better on the hanger. Secondly, in order to prevent the shoulder areas of large garments from sagging and clothes becoming misshaped, the full size hanger has multiple raised ridges located along the top edge of the hanger arms. This allows the full size hanger to be used for a variety of large clothing items in various shapes and sizes because the ridges prevent the clothing from sliding off the hanger. Finally, in order to support the increased weight of large clothing, the structure of the hanger has been modified to add a small ledge running along and over hanging the outer and inner edges of the hanger, so that the structure looks similar to an “I” beam.

Description

SUMMARY

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to clothing hangers, and more specifically to a large or full size hanger.
2. Description of Related Art
People come in a variety of body shapes and sizes. Yet unless one is a small child, almost everyone uses a single sized hanger, which is approximately 16 to 18 inches in width. Americans though are gaining weight and many are no longer of an “average” size. Thus there is a need for a full size hanger to accommodate a person's larger clothing. Without a full size hanger, people are forced to store clothes in a way which often causes the shoulder area to sag or the clothes to become misshaped which will effect how the clothes fit due to the odd way the clothes must be positioned on a conventional hanger. There is even a problem of the clothes falling completely off the hanger, which causes a person to have to re-iron items they have previously hung in their closet. As one's clothing size increases, the weight of that item increases as well. Often conventional hangers can not support such extra weight. The extra weight can cause the conventional hanger to bend or even break, causing aggravation to the owner. Therefore there exists a need for a means by which people with larger sized clothing can hang such clothing in their closet without the problems described above.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that were identical on the claims of this invention; however, the following references were considered related:
U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,538; issued in the name of Autry, Hayward; describes adjustable clothing hanger in excess of 18 inches.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,174; issued in the name of Kandi; describes a large adjustable clothing hanger.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,358; issued in the name of Lam; describes a clothing hanger which is adjustable to a large size.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,811,064; issued in the name of Salem; describes an adjustable clothing hanger.
EU PAT APP NO. 1498054; petitioned by Tubman; describes an adjustable clothing hanger.
EU PAT NO. 670133; issued in the name of Lam; describes a garment hanger.
EU PAT NO. 683999; issued in the name of Lam; describes a garment hanger.
EU PAT NO. 1004420; issued in the name of Seckelmann; describes a mold for a garment hanger.
JAP PAT NO. 200121866; issued in the name of Kojima Fumiaki; describes a folding hanger that is adjustable in length.
Such an examination of the clothing hanger industry reveals there is a need for enhancements relating to existing products. It appears that the prior art has attempted to make hangers which can accommodate large size clothing, but none which are specifically designed only for large clothing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved clothing hanger for large clothing items.
It is a feature of the present invention to provide an improved clothing hanger which is 21 inches in length as compared to the standard 18 inches.
It is a further feature of the present invention to provide an improved clothing hanger, which has multiple raised ridges located on the outer edge of its arms so as to prevent the clothing from sliding off the hanger.
It is a further feature of the present invention to provide an improved clothing hanger, having a unique structural design in order to ensure the extra weight of the larger clothes will not bend or break the hanger. The structure has been modified to add a small ledge running along and over hanging the outer and inner edges of the hanger, so that the structure looks similar to an “I” beam.
The present invention is a clothes hanger specifically made only for large sized clothes. It was designed to ensure that such large clothing will properly fit on the hanger in order to preserve the shape and appearance of the clothes. The hanger will allow an above average sized person to hang their shirts, blouses, jackets or coats without a concern about having the clothes becoming misshapen. The increase length of the hanger as well as the multiple raised ridges on the hanger's arms top edge ensures a proper fit to avoid this problem. The present invention thus ensures that the large clothing removes from a closet will no longer have sagging shoulders or increased wrinkle marks. The advantage of the present invention is that not only will a large person's clothes be properly stored, but also that the hangers used to store them will no longer break or bend, saving the consumers money and aggravation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and unique features of the present invention are better understood with reference to the following drawings and the detailed description and claims set forth below. The drawings contains numbers on specific elements or features which are referenced in the detailed description and claims.

FIG. 1 Picture of the full size hanger with the hanger lying flat on a surface.

FIG. 2 Close up of the raised ridges located along the hanger's arm, taken from a position of a person standing over the hanger.

FIG. 3 Picture of the full size hanger as the hanger would appear if hung in a closet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For clarity of illustration, actual pictures of the invention have been used. Dimensions are exact and pictures are to scale. Where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the Figures to indicate corresponding elements.
The present invention relates to a full size clothes hanger for hanging large sized garments. The basic shape of the hanger is similar to prior art in that it includes two arms and a support cross piece forming a product in the vague shape of the triangle. Preferably, the support cross piece has been extended in length to 21 inches, (1) as opposed to the standard 18 inches.
Additionally the present invention is unique in that along the outer edge each arm of the hanger, there are multiple raised ridges. Generally a hanger will have one notch in each arm to ensure that the shirt or blouse does not slip off the hanger. However, the present invention is unique in that it can accommodate a wide variety of clothing styles and sizes due to the multiple raised ridges, which are in addition to the standard notch. By placing raised ridges it is ensured that any large clothing item will properly fit on the hanger and will be held in place when stored in a closet.
The structure of the hanger is unique in that the outside edge of the hanger is a small ledge, one cm in width (3), running the entire length of the hanger's shape. The structure is also unique in that the inside edge of the hanger is a small ledge 1 cm in width (4), running the entire length of the hanger's shape. The two edges (3) and (4), are connected with a thinner piece of plastic 0.3 cm in thickness (5), which varies in height to correspond to the hanger's shape. Connecting the top edge (3) to the bottom edge (4) with the thin piece (5) makes the structure of the hanger unique in that it looks like an “I” beam.
The descriptions of specific embodiments set forth above have been presented for the purposes of illustration and description and are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. It should be understood that the specific invention may be modified or varied in light of the above teaching. These embodiments however were chosen to explain the basic principles of the invention as well as its practical use. It is understood that we seek to embody within the scope of the patent warranted herein all modifications as reasonably may come within the scope of our contribution to the art. The scope of the present invention shall be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents, and as such the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.

Claims

1. A clothing hanger compromising of two arms and a cross piece with the cross piece being equal to 21 inches in length. Each arm will attach to one side of the cross piece and be placed at an angle to meet the other arm.

2. The clothing hanger of claim 1, wherein the arms of the hanger multiple raised ridges along the top edge of the arm just below the notch carved into each respective arm.

3. The clothing hanger of claim 1, wherein the top edge of the structure of the hanger is 1 cm in width, running the entire length of the hanger's shape.

4. The clothing hanger of claim 1, wherein the bottom edge of the structure of the hanger is 1 cm in width, running the entire length of the hanger's shape.

5. The clothing hanger of claim 1, wherein the piece connecting the top and bottom edges of the structure is 0.3 cm in thickness.

6. A clothing hanger comprising of two arms and a cross piece with each arm containing multiple raised ridges along the top edge of the armn just below the notch carved into each respective arm.

7. The clothing hanger of claim 6, wherein the top edge of the structure of the hanger is 1 cm in width, running the entire length of the hanger's shape.

8. The clothing hanger of claim 6, wherein the bottom edge of the structure of the hanger is 1 cm in width, running the entire length of the hanger's shape.

9. The clothing hanger of claim 6, wherein the piece connecting the top and bottom edges of the structure is 0.3 cm in thickness.

10. A clothing hanger having a top edge of the structure of the hanger being 1 cm in width, running the entire length of the hanger's shape.

11. The clothing hanger of claim 10, wherein the bottom edge of the structure of the hanger is 1 cm in width, running the entire length of the hanger's shape.

12. The clothing hanger of claim 10, wherein the piece connecting the top and bottom edges of the structure is 0.3 cm in thickness.

13. A clothing hanger having a bottom edge of the structure of the hanger being 1 cm in width, running the entire length of the hanger's shape.

14. The clothing hanger of claim 13, wherein the piece connecting the top and bottom edges of the structure is 0.3 cm in thickness.

15. A clothing hanger compromising of a top edge of the structure of the hanger being 1 cm in width, running the entire length of the hanger's shape, a bottom edge of the structure of the hanger is 1 cm in width, running the entire length of the hanger's shape, and the piece connecting the top and bottom edges of the structure is 0.3 cm in thickness.

16. The clothing hanger of claim 15, wherein in the arms of the hanger multiple raised ridges along the top edge of the arm just below the notch carved into each respective ann.

17. The clothing hanger of claim 15, wherein the cross piece shall be equal to 21 inches in length.

18. A clothing hanger compromising of two arms and a cross piece with the cross piece being equal in length to 21 inches. Each arm will attach to one side of the cross piece and be placed at an angle to meet the other ann. Each ann further has multiple raised ridges along the top edge of the arm just below the notch carved into each respective arm. The structure of the hanger is compromised of three parts; wherein the top edge of the structure of the hanger being 1 cm in width, running the entire length of the hanger's shape, a bottom edge of the structure of the hanger is 1 cm in width, running the entire length of the hanger's shape, and the piece connecting the top and bottom edges of the structure is 0.3 cm in thickness.