US2535603A - Clothes hanger - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 26, 1950 r. H. RIDDELL 2,535,503

CLOTHES HANGER v Filed March 8, 1948 Patented Dec. 26, 1950 OFFICE CLOTHES HANGER Thomas Henry Riddell, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Application March 8, 1948, Serial No. 13,591 In Australia April 3, 1947 3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to clothes hangers and particularly to skirt hangers.

The object of the invention is to provide a clothes han er, the length of which may be readily adiusted to receive articles of clothing, such as skirts, of various sizes.

Another object is to provide means whereby the length of the hanger may be readily maintained at any value to which it is adjusted.

The invention therefore is a clothes hanger including an open ended rail which is hollow at least adiacent to its ends, angle members each comprising an approximately horizontal part and a part depending downwardly and outwardly approximately at right angles to the horizontal part, the horizontal parts of the respective angle members being adapted to fit slidably and rotatably in the ends of the rail and resiliently controlled frictional means enclosing each angle member adjacent to each end of the rail for retaining the horizontal parts of the angle members in any desired position within the rail.

Two forms of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a skirt hanger according to one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmental perspective view of part of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmental elevation of part of a skirt hanger according to another form of the invention.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the skirt hanger comprises generally a sleeve, tube, rail or main member 4 constructed preferably of metal or other resilient material, angle members 5 and a book 5.

The sleeve 4 is hollow cylindrical and has diametral slits i formed one in each end and extending inwardly for a short distance. Each member 5 has a part 8 located slidably and rotatably within an end of the sleeve and a part 9 extending approximately at right angles to the part 8.

In use the part 9 extends downwardly and is shaped to receive, when in this position, the waist band and hip portion of a skirt.

To vary the distance between the parts 9 to accommodate skirts of various sizes, the parts 8 of the member 5 are displaced axially within the sleeve.

This displacement takes place against the friction between the parts 8 and the interior of the sleeve and this friction retains each member 5 in any position to which its part 8 is adjusted within the sleeve. The friction is maintained and controlled by circular spring clips [0 located on and closely surrounding the sleeve adjacent to its respective ends. Any tendency for the parts 8 to fit loosely within the tube due to wear or other factors is counteracted by the respective clips forcing the two parts II at each split end of the sleeve towards each other and against the part 8.

Referring to Fig. 3 the clips are dispensed with and the sleeve is not split at its ends. Instead a closely coiled helical spring I2 is employed. One end E3 of the spring when undistorted is of larger diameter than the other end l4 when undistorted. The end I3 i made a press fit on the end of the sleeve 4 and the end 14 extends beyond the end of the sleeve 4 and closely surrounds the part 8 of the member 5. The part 8 is located as before within the sleeve 4.

To displace the parts 8 axially within the sleeve to vary the seeing of the members 5 the friction between the parts 8 and M, which is accentuated by the resilience of Hi, must be overcome. When the required displacement has been made, the friction maintains the part 8 in the required position.

Alternatively a short sleeve secured on the outside of the end of the sleeve 4 may be substituted for the end I3 of the spring l2, the end M of the spring being secured to the outer end of the short sleeve.

The hook 6 is secured to the sleeve 4 in known manner midway along the length of the sleeve.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that only the end portions of the sleeve 4 need be hollow. The remainder may be solid and may be shaped so that it may be used, for example, as a coat hanger and, by means of the movable members 5, provision may be made for a small range of coat sizes.

In the claims, for convenience, the parts of the angle members have been referred to with reference to their position when the clothes hanger is suspended by its hook with the sleeve approximately horizontal.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is:

1. A clothes hanger including an open ended rail which is hollow at least adjacent to its ends, angle members each comprising an approximately horizontal part and a part depending downwardly and outwardly approximately at right angles to the horizontal part, the horizontal parts of the respective angle members 3 being adapted to fit slidably and rotatably in the ends of the rail and resiliently controlled frictional means enclosing each angle member adjacent to each end of the rail for retaining the horizontal parts of the angle members in any desired position within the rail.

2. A clothes hanger including an open ended rail which is hollow and is split approximately axially at least adjacent to its end portions, angle members each comprising an approxi mately horizontal part and a part depending downwardly and outwardly approximately at right angles to the horizontal part, the horizontal parts of the respective angle members being adapted to fit closely but slidably and rotatably in the split ends of the rail and curved spring clips closely engaging the respective split ends and pressing the parts of the split ends towards each other and against the horizontal parts of the angle members.

3. A clothes hanger including an open ended rail which is hollow at least adjacent to its ends, angle members each comprising an approximately horizontal part and a part depending downwardly and outwardly approlximately at right angles to the horizontal part, a helical spring secured to each end of the rail and extending outwardly from said rail end, the horizontal parts of the angle members being adapted to fit slidably and rotatably in the ends of the rail and to fit closely but slidably and rotatably within the outer ends of the respective springs.

THOMAS HENRY RIDDELL.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,063,767 Spencer Dec. 8, 1936 2,148,688 Freise Feb. 28, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 220,423 Great Britain Aug. 21, 1924

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