US2391947A - Garment hanger - Google Patents

Description

J. D. CONEY- GARMENT HANGER Jan. 1, 1946.

Filed May 22, 1944 .FIG'4'.

INVENTOR. JAMES D CONEY R l m 4T Q A Patented Jan. 1, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GARMENT HANGER James D. Coney, Chicago,

Application May 22, 1944, Serial No. 536; 688" 4"Claims.

This invention relates to garment hangers and more particularly to the combination wire frame and rigid rod strut type garment hangers, although certain features thereof may be employed with equal'advantage in connection with other types of garment hangers or for other purposes.

It contemplates more. especially an improved garment hanger that embodies a combination wire frame and rigid bar strut such as a round wood solid rod which can be readily assembled by the user to provide an improved hanger construction that is capable of sustaining heavy garments without the usual tendency of the wire hanger portion becoming separated fromthe .pa-v per tubestrut.

The use of a solid wood'strut imparts such increased rigidity to a wire garment hanger frame as to enable the use of much lighter gauge wire for the hook and frame. This appreciably decreases the material and construction costs and still provides the necessary rigidity and required garment load capacity. Durability is also improved as there is no destructive influence whatsoever on a wood strut even with the repeated use thereof over a long period of time. While the material of the strut has been specifically desig-- nated as wood, yet this should be construed by way of example rather than limitation to cover any material having properties of rigidity and strength capable of adaptation tov the structural concept of wire frame attachment with the bracing strut constituting an element of the garment hanger, in the manner and according to the teachings of the present invention.

One object of the present invention is to simplify and improve the construction of garment hangers embodying a combination wire frame and solid wood or other highly rigid strut.

Another object is to provide an opentwiregarment frame for ready attachment to a solid wood or other highly rigid strut without placing either element under tension, deformation or strain.

Still another object is to provide a garment hanger of the type mentioned having wire arms terminating in specially shaped openloop extremities to provide ready engagement with a rigid wood or other highly rigid strut without.requiring either of the elements to be under tension, deformation or other strain in effecting or maintaining the assembly thereof.

A further object is to provide an improved garment hanger constructed partially from non-me.- tallic material to afford complete garment hanger utility with acombination wire and solid wood or other highly rigid strut assembly.

A stil1 .further.object istoprovide a garment hanger. of. the, type mentioned havingwire arms terminating in open loops with extensions to provide ready engagement with a solid wood or other highly rigid strut without requiring either of the elementsv to. be under tension, deformation or other strain in. retaining the assembly thereof. Still afurtherobject is to provide a garment hanger of the type mentioned having wire arms terminatingin open loop extremities with extending fingers projecting into recesses in the solid barstrut to enable. their assembly without placingeither element under tension, deformation or other strain.

Other objects and advantages willappear from the following description of an illustrated embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front View in elevation of a garment hanger embodying features of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an end view in elevation of thegarment hanger shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view in elevation of an end portion of the wire arm together with the complemental portion of the solid bar strut showing the assembled construction and relation of the garment hanger elements.

Figure4 is a fragmentary. sectional view in elevation of an end portion of the solid wood strut embodyingfeatures of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary end view in elevation of the end portion wire frame and solid wood strut assembled to receive a fastener to illustrate the manner of supporting a skirt or other garment therewith.

Figure 6 is an end view of a solid bar strut showing the complemental end slot enabling assembly with the wire frame portion.

The structure selected for illustration is not intended to serve as a limitation upon the scope or teachings of the invention, but is merely illustrative thereof. There may be considerable variations: and adaptations of all or part of the teachings depending upon the dictates of commercial practice.

The present embodiment comprises a wire or I frame [0 of light gauge wire construction procomprising part of the frame arms l3-l4 re spectively.

The downwardly extending frame loops 2ll2l have curved legs 22-23 that are spaced from each other to define the upwardly open loops 202 I. The inward loop legs 23 terminate in upwardly and outwardly extending straight fingers 24 that diverge from. each other to present engaging instrumentalities for connection to the frame strut to be hereinafter described. It should be noted that the diverging strut engaging fingers 24 extend upwardly at an inclined angle above the horizontal strut supporting portions l8-l9 for substantially the radius or onehalf the thickness of a rigid strut 25 that is interposed between the confronting arm ends' |5-I1 and Iii-l1.

The strut 25 is preferably though not essentially of solid construction and shaped from wood, although other suitable materials may be utilized to provide a rigid, polygonal bar such as a round rod supported between the straight inwardly inclined ends I! of the frame ID as will appear more fully hereinafter.

The length of the rigid strut 25 is somewhat greaterthan the distance between the straight frame ends l1, since upwardly diverging slots 26 are provided in the ends 21 of the solid strut 25 to communicate with the rounded or chamfered circular edges 28 of the rod ends 21 thereof to permit free registry with the straight and correspondingly inclined ends I! of the wire frame m. This precludes the rotation of the. strut 25 relative to the frame arms l3-l4 and provides for the insertion of the downward converging straight frame arm extensions I! so that the looped extremities 20-2! thereon will be positioned belowand protrude downwardly from the strut 25 proximate to the strut ends 21. The horizontally straight frame end extensions l8l9 contact the underside of the strut 25 when the loop extension fingers 24 are disposed in inclined recesses or apertures 25. The apertures 29 diverge upwardly into the solid strut or rod 25 to correspond in length, divergence and spacing with the loop fingers 24; however, the loops 2ll2l provide the necessary yield to permit the wire diverging arms I3l4 with their ends l5--l6 to slip over the rod or strut ends 21 for lodgement into the strut end slots 26. The upwardly divergent apertures 29 with the correspondingly inclined straight fingers 24, preclude the separation of the frame I 0 from the rod or strut 25 under all conditions.

It should be noted that the strut end slots 26 have the same divergence of the frame ends I! and substantially merge with the surface of the strut ends 2'! near the top diametrical vertical line point thereof so that the frame curved ends -46 will contact and engage the garment at the outermost projecting frame and strut point. The strut end s ots 28 prevent lateral movement of the frame arms I3|4 in either direction and coupled with the loop fingers 24 projecting in the strut apertures 29 maintain the initial shape and diverging angularity thereof irrespective of the garment load thereon. With the frame arm terminal fingers protruding into the bottom opening apertures 29 that divergingly extend upwardly into the solid strut 25, the downwardly extending loops -2| and particularly the horizontally confronting frame portions I8I9 rest along the bottom surface of the strut or rod as support therefor and to stabilize the assembled connection between the wire frame [0 and the solid strut 25. In spite of minute variations in the shape or configuration of the frame terminal loops 202l which may occur in large production operations, the open type loops 20-2l together with their long strut engaging fingers 24 will permit sufficient yield to provide a perfect engaging fit between the wire frame l6 and the strut 25. There is no tension on the wire frame 10 while in assembled association with the strut 25 and none is required to keep these parts in assembled connection. The spread of the arm ends l5ll and l6l'| responsive to a garment load on the frame 10, will be precluded by the outwardly divergent strut engaging fingers 24 that cannot spread on account of their engagement with the strut 25.

It should be observed that this arrangement and method of assembly involves no tension, deformation or strain on either the wire frame it), its arms l3l4, or its ends I5I6 or on the strut 25 as these elements are initially shaped,

. stamped and constructed to be perfectly complemental to each other so that they can be shipped knocked-down to save transportation space and thereafter readily assembled by the user without entailing any appreciable time, effort or inconvenience. Any stresses or strains imparted to the garment frame ill by virtue of the garment load thereon will not effect the assembled relation of the garment supporting elements. The assembled relation of the component elements is maintained owing to the fact that the inwardly curved frame arm ends I5-ll and |6-l1 register with the strut slots 26 to prevent relative turning therebetween.

Any tendency for inward or outward displacement of the frame arms I 3l 4 relative to the strut 25 is precluded'by the divergent finger extremities 24 which protrude in and through the bottom communicating apertures 29 provided in the strut 25. This is coupled with the horizontal supporting line of contact between the end regions of the strut 25 and the straight frame portions l8l9 that merge with the looped xtremities 20 2 I. This effects a dependable interengagement between the frame ends |5-Il and Iii-l1, on one hand, and the open looped e tension fingers 24, on the other hand, with the apertures 29, respectively, in the solid strut 25, thereby retaining the wire frame In and the rigid strut 25 in assembled relation without tension. deformation or strain on either or both other than the garment load thereon.

In order to support garments such as womens skirts from the frame In without doubling such garments over the strut 25, any suitable fastener such as safety pins 30 extend through the loops 2ll2l for engagement with the waistband of the skirt or other garment to effect the suspended support thereof. With these fasteners, such garments as skirts can be supported without folding or other undesirable creasing. ,These loops 20-2l also permit the strut 25 to be inserted between the frame ends l5-l1 and l6ll and their upwardly inclined and diverging extensions 24 so that the strut 25 i readily, conveniently, and effectively assembled with the frame in to effect interengagement against accidental separation without entailing any appreciable time or labor. This is important because the Wire frames Ill and the struts 25 can be packed more advantageously and efficiently when separated from each other. These component elements Ill-45 are furnished for assembly by the purchaser who also can supply the suspended garment fasteners 30 as independent accessories Within the dictates of commercial practice.

The fact that the component hanger elements l25 are initially sized to be interfitting without any requirement to effect their assembled retention by tensioning, deforming or straining any portion thereof, the purchaser can perfectly assemble these without any assembling equ pment or previous experience or utilization of force which may permanently impair the frame it) or strut 25 should the latter be constructed from a less durable material than solid wood.

While I have illustrated and described a pre ferred embodiment of this invention, it must be understood that the invention is capable of considerable variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and mod fications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a garment hanger, the combination with a solid strut, of a supporting hook and yieldable frame of wire having downwardly diverging arms, inwardly curved arm ends on said frame, inwardly projecting horizontal portions extending from said curved arm ends to project beneath said solid strut, upwardly diverging extension fingers extending above said inwardly projecting horizontal strut supporting portions, said strut having end communicating slots therein to reduce the length therebetween to correspond with the spacing of said inwardly curved arm ends that register therewith, said strut having upwardly diverging apertures therein, said apertures being closed at their upper ends and communicating with the bottom of said strut to frictionally receive said diverging extension fingers therein with said arm end horizontally extending portions on an under side of said strut to support and preclude the separation of said strut from said wire frame.

2. In a garment hanger, the combination with a solid strut, of a supporting hook and yieldable frame of Wire having downwardly diverging arms, inwardly curved arm ends on said frame, curved loop terminals on said arm ends, upwardly extending stra ght fingers on said curved loop terminals, said strut having a somewhat greater length than the spacing between said inwardly curved arm ends, said strut having end communicating slots therein to reduce the length therebetween to correspond with the spacing of said inwardly curved arm ends that register therewith, said strut having upwardly inclined aper- 5 tures therein prox ate to the ends thereof for receiving said upwardly extending straight fingers therein to preclude their separation when said frame ends extend for their normal spread through the slots in the ends of said strut with said fingers and strut apertures in operative connection.

3. In a garment hanger, the combination with a solid wood strut, of a supporting hook and yieldable frame of wire having downwardly diverging arms, inwardly curved arm ends on said frame, horizontally extending straight strut supporting portions on said curved arm ends, curved loop terminals on said strut supporting portions, straight fingers extending from said loops, said solid Wood strut having a somewhat greater length than the spacing between said inwardly curved arm ends, said strut having end communicating inclined slots therein to reduce the length therebetween to correspond with the spacing and contour of said inwardly curved arm ends that register therewith, said solid wood strut havingupwardly divergent apertures closed at their upper ends and terminating in the bottom thereof proximate to the ends thereof for receiving said curved an arm end loop terminal fingers therein to abut against the upper closed ends thereof, said straight fingers normally diverging to preclude their separation when said frame ends extend for their normal spread in connection with said solid wood strut with said terminal loops depending therebelow.

4. In a garment hanger, the combination with a round solid wood strut, of a supporting hook and yieldable frame of wire having downwardly diverging arms, inwardly curved arm ends on said frame, horizontally extending strut supporting portions on said curved arm ends, outwardly curved open loop terminals on said arm ends, straight upwardly divergent fingers extending 4 from said curved open loops, said solid strut having a somewhat greater length than the spacing between said inwardly curved arm ends, said solid strut having end communicating vertical slots in ends thereof to reduce the length therebetween to correspond with the spacing of said inwardly curved arm ends that register therewith, said solid strut having upwardly divergent apertures extending therein from the bottom thereof proximate to the ends thereof for receiving said. correspondingly divergent straight fingers therein with said straight strut supporting portions resting on a bottom wall of said strut provide effective connection between said strut and frame arm ends when the latter extend for their normal spread over the ends of said strut with said terminal loops depending below said strut.

JAMES D. CONEY.

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