US2440637A

US2440637A - Clothes hanger

Info

Publication number: US2440637A
Application number: US638834A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lowe Martin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-01-03
Filing date: 1946-01-03
Publication date: 1948-04-27
Anticipated expiration: 1965-04-27

Description

'M. LOWE CLOTHES HANGER April 27, 1948.

Filed Jan. 3, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 27, 1948. M. LOWE Q CLOTHES HANGER Filed Jan. 5, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fig HTTQK/YEX' Patented Apr. 27, 1948 2,44 0,637 CLOTHES HANGER" Martin: Lowe, New. York,

half to AbrakamrBlo N.- Y., ossignor atoneck,. New York, N Y.

Application. January 3, 1946; Serial No. 638,834

3 Claims.

This invention relates to-riew and useful lin protemeiits in clothes hangers.

This application is directed to similar subject matter as disclosed in my copendiiig application for a clothes hanger Serial No. stress, fileo l iovem'ber 10, 1945*.

This application particularly covei-s improved handles for operating the pair of shoulder pieoes so that the hanger may be readily manipulated with one hand.- With the improved handle por tioiis it is e. sim le matter to ivottheshoulder pieces of the hanger.

The invention also roposes new andimoroved latch means for releasably holding the handle portions together.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a device as described, which is sim ple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention. and of the objects and advantages thereof, ref-- erence will be had to the following description and accompanying drawin s, and to the aooench ed claims in which the Various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a insterial part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is an ele'vationeil view of a clothes hanger constructed in accordance with one form of this invention, the dot and dash lines schematically indicate a partially closed position of the hen ger.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentar horizontal sec'hmsl View taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of soother clothes hanger embodying another form of invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 ofl ig". 4.

Fig. 6 is e fresmentery elevetionel View of still another clothes hanger constructed in scccrdoiice with still another form of this invention.

Fig. '7 is a. fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the Iifie S -50f Fig; 7:

The new and improved clothes fiiil'lgl as H lustreteo in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive; includes e pair of shoulder pieces H), H constructed of sllkistantially flat material and hing'edly connected together at their adjacent bottom portions with a pintle pin or rivet It. The bottom iortions of the shoulder nieces which are ensesed ediscerlt each other.

portions l4 and 1 shoulders HT and Here out out so as end I 5 oi recliiceo thicknesses The it are also provioeowithehuttins it which liiiiitspivotiiis of the shoulder pieces l0 and H from a substantialli horizontel position: upwards; However,- the shoulder ieces mend it are tree to pivot downwards;

The shoulder pieces Hi and H are orovloetl with cowardly directedhsiiole portions [8 and i8, respectively. These handle ortions project upwards from points close to one above the hifige or theshoulder piecesit" and H. The heindleportions f8 and I9 normally shut each. other; and-further assist-inlinilting pivoting of said shoulder pieces from the horizontal position upwards.

Th handle portion it continues into at top hook 2| by whiehthe hanger may he supported. A let h is connected with the handle portions [8 end i9=for releassbly holding said handle po e tions. This latch compr'isese flexible element or hook portion 22 formed on the top snd rofooting frooithe hohdle portion is and engageel'ole with s complementary keeper element 23 iormed'on the handle oort'ion 18. The sioes of the heinol'e portion is are iorhieol with recesses 24 inthe Vicinity of the comolementsrylreeper eleirieiitrfi so as to provide room for the finger tips when the hook portion 22 is manually gripped. This facilitates msnusl opening of the latch. The front of the hook ortion 22 is curved eiicl ensagesble against is complementary curve formed on the complementary Iteeioerportion 23 which causes the when the shoulder pieces in and If are pivoted to -theirsubstantially horizontal position. Said handle portions It 921161" 19 have inwardlycurved sides b which the handle portions is and is they be supportedwith the thumb and the third or fourth fingers.

The outer: ends of theshoiiloerpieces ill-snot H- are formed with slots 28 provided with hook: portions- 2 for receiving and holding shoulder straps and loopsof garments;

The operation and use or the clothes hanger may be understood from the following:

- The clothes hanger maybe held with one'hsncl by eiigeg'ihg the fingers around? the hassle per tions it and: It; With one of the fingers the hoolt portion 22 may be cam-med upwards ior opening the latch. The shoulderpieoes I01 one H may thenbe let down by separating thefiin gers. The dot and dash lines H schematically inoicste snotheroosltion' of the: shoulder piece latch to automatically close portions shoulder.

H. In this way the clothes hanger may easily be engaged through the neck opening of a small necked garment. With the hands still holding the handle portions I8 and W, the fingers may be moved together for moving the shoulder pieces l and II back into their spread position. The latch automatically closes when the front curved end of the hook portion 22 strikes the curved complementary keeper element 23. The handle I8 and I9 may be supported by the thumb and third finger and the index finger may be engaged beneath the flexible element 22 and pressure applied to flex said element 22 upwards to open the latch.

In Figs. 4 and a modified form of the invention has been disclosed which distinguishes in several ways from the prior form. In this form the clothes hanger is provided with a pair of shoulder pieces 35 and 31 of substantially fiat material hingedly connected together at their adjacent bottom portions with a pintle pin or rivet 32. The adjacent bottom portions are recessed into relatively thin portions 33 and 35 which overlap each other. The pintle pin or rivet32 is mounted through these overlapping portions. 7

Theshoulder pieces 30 and 3i are provided with

handle portions

36 and 31 projecting upwards at points close to and above the hinge pin or rivet 32. The

handle portions

36 and 51 normally abut each other for limiting pivoting of the shoulder pieces 3!! and 3! from a substantially horizontal position upwards. Said handle portions 35 and 31 have inwardly curved sides by which the handle portions 35- and 31 may be supported with the thumb and third or fourth fingers. The handle portion 35 continues into a top hook 38 by which the hanger may be supported. The outer ends of the shoulder pieces 35 and 3| are provided with slots 39 and hook portions 58 adapted to receive and hold the loops and shoul- Vder straps of garments;

A latch is mounted on the handle portions 35 and 31. This latch comprises a fiexible element such as a leaf spring 42 mounted upon the handle portion 36 and extending over the handle portion 31. The handle portion 31 has a cam shaped top projection 44 engageable into a complementary opening 45 formed in the leaf spring 42. Said top projection 45 has, starting from its inner end, a rising top surface which terminates at its outer end in a downwardly extending The bottom end portion of the leaf spring 42 is wider than the thickness. of the handle portion 31 so that there are projecting side portions 46 which may be easily manually engaged by the fingers. The front end 41 of the leaf spring 42 is turned upwards and is adapted to ride along the top surface of the cam projection 44 when the handle portions 35 and 31 are moved towards each other so that the leaf spring 42 is flexed upwards until saidtop projection is aligned with said opening 45 and then the leaf spring 42 fiexes downwards and the outer end of the opening 45 engages the shoulder of the projection 44 for holding the latch closed.

The operation and use of this hanger is substantially identical to the prior form. The shoulder pieces and 3| may be controlled with one hand engaging the handle portions and 51. The latch automatically closes when the handle portions are moved together. It may be opened by moving a finger upwards against one or both of the side projecting portions 46 of the leaf spring 42. The handle portions 35 and 31 may be supported by the thumb and third finger, and the index finger may be engaged against the edge of the leaf spring 42 and pressure applied to fiex the leaf spring upwards to open the'latch.

In Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive still another form of the invention has been disclosed. This clothes hanger includes a pair of

shoulder pieces

50 and 5| of substantially fiat material hingedly connected together at their adjacent bottom portions with a pintle pin or rivet 52. The shoulder piece 5| has a circular bottom portion 53 which engages against a circular socket formed in the shoulder piece 55. A pair of plates 55 are mounted upon the sides of the shoulder piece 55 and extend over the circular portion 53. The pintle pin or rivet 52 is mounted on and through the plates 55 and through the circular portion 53. In this way the shoulder pieces 50 and 5i are hingedly connected.

Handle

portions

51 and 58 project upwards from the shoulder pieces 55 and 5i at points close and above the hinge pin or rivet 52. These handle portions normally abut each other for limiting pivoting of the

shoulder pieces

55 and 5| from a horizontal position upwards. However, the

shoulder pieces

55 and 5! are free to pivot downwards. The handle portion 5? is provided with a top hook 59 by which the hanger may be supported. The

handle portions

51 and 55 have inwardly curved sides by which the

handle portions

51 and 55 may be supported with the thumb and third or fourth fingers. V

A latch is mounted on and acts between the

handle portions

51 and 58. This latch is in the nature of a bolt 55 slidably mounted in a slot 6! formed in the handle portion 51. A spring 52 mounted in the slot 5| acts to normally urge the bolt 55 outwards. The bolt 55 normally engages a complementary keeper opening 53-formed in the handle portion 55. The bolt 55 is slidably mounted between the top portions of the pair of plates 55. A pin 54 is mounted on and through I the bolt and passes through short limiting slots 55 formed in the pair of plates 55. Projecting elements such as knobs or handles 53 are mounted on the ends of the pin 64 by which the bolt Bil may be manually moved into an open condition. The front end of the bolt 55 is formed with a rounded cam portion 68 by which it will be naturally forced inwards by a portion of the handle portion 58 when the

shoulder pieces

55 and 5! of the hanger are spread open.

The operation and use of this clothes hanger is substantially identical to the prior forms. With one hand it is possible to engage the

handle portions

51 and 58 and operate the latch by moving the projecting element or knob 55. In this way the latch may be opened and the

shoulder pieces

55 and 51 may be let down to a desirable extent. The shoulder pieces may be moved back to their original positions and the latch will automatically function to latch the

handle portions

51 and 58 together. V

While I have illustrated and describedthe preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the pres cise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention; what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is: V

1. In a clothes hanger having a pair of shoulder pieces of substantially flat material hingedly connected together at their adjacent bottom portions, fiat handle portions having inwardly curved sides and projecting upwards from said shoulder pieces and normally abutting each other for limiting pivoting of said shoulder pieces from a substantially horizontal position upwards and by which the shoulder pieces may be pivoted downwards and then upwards with two fingers of one hand engaging against said inwardly curved sides, a projection on one of said handle portions, a leaf spring on the other handle portion and engaging said projection for holding said handle portions latched together, and said leaf spring having side portions projecting from the faces of said handle portions by which the leaf spring may be manually engaged and flexed by another finger of said hand for unlatching said handle portions.

2. In a clothes hanger having a pair of shoulder pieces of substantially fiat material hingedly connected together at their adjacent bottom por tions, fiat handle portions having inwardly curved sides and projecting upwards from said shoulder pieces and normally abutting each other for limiting pivoting of said shoulder pieces from a substantially horizontal position upwards and by which the shoulder pieces may be pivoted downwards and and then upwards with two fingers of one hand engaging against said inwardly curved sides, a projection on one of said handle portions, a flexible element on the other handle portion and engaging said projection for holding said handle portions latched together, and said flexible element projecting from said handle portions by which the flexible element may be manually engaged and flexed by another finger of said hand for unlatching said handle portions.

3. In a clothes hanger having a pair of shoulder pieces of substantially flat material hingedly connected together at their adjacent bottom portions, flat handle portions having inwardly curved sides and projecting upwards from said shoulder pieces and normally abutting each other for limiting pivoting of said shoulder pieces from a substantially horizontal position upwards: and by which the shoulder pieces may be pivoted downwards and then upwards with two fingers of one hand engaging against said inwardly curved sides, a latch on said'handle portions for holding said handle portions latched together and having a projecting element movable upwards for opening said latch and which may be manually engaged and moved by another finger of said hand for unlatching said handle portions.

MARTIN LOWE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 586,456 Rideout July 13, 1897 1,066,170 Wesner July 1, 1913 1,676,936 Trevino July 10, 1928