US3101162A - Foldable clothes hanger - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 20, 1963 H. WOODS v FOLDABLE CLOTHES HANGER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 19, 1960 H. WOODS FOLDABLE CLOTHES HANGER Aug. 20, 1963 few? or 6' e72 aoczi'i MQWK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 7 3,191,162 FOLDABLE CLQTHES lWlANGER Helen Woods, 217 Main St, Northampton, Mass. Substituted for abandoned application Ser. No. 453,472,. Sept. 1, 1954'. This application May 19, 196$,Ser. No. 37,014-

4 Claims. ((Cl. 223---%) I in order that they may be swung towards and away from one another into and out of a folded position wherein they are in side-by-side relation; (2) a hook which serves as a medium or instrumentality for suspending the hanger from an elevated horizontally extending rod or other support, consists of a hook part and a depending shank part, and has at the lower end of its shank part an eye in encircling relation with the pivot pin; and (3) a pair of extension arms which are associated respectively with the main arms and have certain ends thereof so pivoted to the outer ends of the main arms so that they are capable of being swung back and forth between an open position wherein they extend outwards from, and form continuations of, the main arms and a closed position wherein they overlie the main arms.

One object of the invention is to provide a clothes hanger of the aforementioned type which is an improve ment on, and has certain inherent advantages over,-previously designed hangers and is characterized by simplicity of design or construction, low cost of manufacture and ease of manipulation into and out of its folded position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clothes hanger of the type under consideration in which the main arms are in the form of sheet metal stampings and one of the main arms is slightly wider than the other in order that when the main arms are in their folded position, the side walls of the one main arm are disposed outwards of, and in lapped relation with, the side walls of the other main arm to the end that the main arms form a substantially closed case.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clothes hanger of the last mentioned character in which the wider main arm is provided at the inner end of its bottom wall with an integral coplanar extension which when the two main arms are swung away from one another into their unfolded position engages the inner end of the bottom wall of the narrower main arm and forms a stop for preventing the two arms from being swung past their unfolded position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clothes hanger of the type and character under consideration in which the outer ends of the bottom walls'ofthe main arms are bent upwards at right angles in order to form flanges which when the main arms are in their folded position are arranged in lapped relation and serve as an end closure for the case that is formed by the two main arms.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clothes hanger of the type and character last mentioned in which one of the flanges is provided in its central portion with a socket-like recess and the other flange. has in its central portion a coacting protuberance which when the main arms are in theirfolded position fits within the recess and 3.1%,162 Patented Aug. 20, 1963 forms therewith a detent for releasably holding the main arms in their folded position;

Another object of, the invention is to provide aclothes hanger of the aforementioned character in which the eye on the lower end of the shank part of the hook is materially greater in diameter than the pivot pin in order that the hook may be turned back and forth between anoperative position wherein its hook part is in parallel relation with the side walls of the main aims and hence is properly arranged to support the main arms when the latter are in their unfolded position and an inoperative position wherein its hook part extends at right angles to the side walls and hence permits thehook to fit flatly between the bottom walls ofthe main arms when the latter are in their folded position. a V

Another object of the invention is to provide a clothes hanger of the aforementioned type and character in which the extension arms are formed of comparatively heavy or stiff wire, are U-shaped, and have the outer ends of their side parts bent outwards to form trunnions which extend loosely through holes in the outer end portions of the side walls of the main arms.

A further object of the invention: is to provide a clothes hanger of the last mentioned character in which the side portions of the outer ends of the bottom walls of the main arms are deflected downwards to form channelswhich are adapted to receive the outer end portions of the side parts of the U-shaped extension arms when such arms are in their open position and are progressively deeper from the inner ends thereof to their outer ends in order that when the extension arms are in their open position they'extend slightly downwards with respect to the main arms.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a clothes hanger which is generally of new and improved construction and effectively and efficiently fulfills its intended purposes. 7 v

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present clothes hanger will -beapparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a clothes hanger embody ing the invention with the hook in .its operative position, the main arms in their unfolded position and the extension arms in their open position; a

FIG. 2 is a side elevation showingthe hook, the main frame and the extension arms in the same positions as shown in FIG. 1; 4

FIG. 3- is a longitudinal section showing the hanger with the main arms in their unfolded position, the extension arms in their closed position and. the hook in its inoperative position as a preliminary to swinging the main arms into their folded positions;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal seotionshowing the hanger in its fully folded or collapsed position and illustrating in detail the manner in which the main arms form a substantially closed case; I i

FIG. 5 is an end view of the folded hanger, showing in detail the manner in which the right angle flanges at the outer ends of the bottom walls of the main arms lap one another; v

FIG. 6 is a transversev section on 'the line 6-6 of FIG. 4; :FIG. 7 is a FIG. 8 is a perspective of the narrower main arm and its-associated extension arm; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective of'the wider main arm and its associated U shaped extension arm.

The hanger which is shown in the drawings constitutes the preferred form or embodiment of the invention. It is adapted to support clothes such, for example, as coats, jackets and dresses and comprises a pair of elongated juxtapositioned main arms Hand 11, a normally upstanding hook 12 and-a pair of extension arms 13 and 14. Generally speaking, the hanger is of the foldable or collapsible type in order that it occupies but a small amount of space and may be readily transported when in its folded or collapsed position. The main arms and 11 extend outwards in opposite directions when they are in their unfolded position and have the inner ends thereof connected together by a pivot pin 15 in order that they may be swung towards and away from one another into and out of a folded position wherein they are in side-by-side relation.

The main arm 10 of the hanger is preferably in the form of a one-piece sheet metal stamping. It is U-shaped in cross section and consists of a substantially flat bottom wall 16 and a pair of side walls 17. The bottom wall 16 is substantially rectangular so far as contour or configuration is concerned. The side walls 17 are connected to the side margins of the bottom wall and extend at right angles to the bottom wall. The inner end of the bottom wall 16 is extended with respect to the inner ends of the side walls 17 and is bent upwards and inwards so as to form a substantially semi-cylindrical end wall 18. The latter is provided in the central portion thereof with a notch 19, the purpose of which will be described hereafter. The outer end of the bottom wall 16 is bent upwards at night angles in order to form a flange 20, the ends of which are spaced from the outer ends of the side walls 17. The central portion of the flange 29 is struck or deflected inwards in order to form a socket-like recess 21. The inner ends of the side walls 17 of the main arm 10 are provided with a pair of coaxial or aligned holes 22. The outer end portions of the side walls 17 are provided at a small distance inward of their outer extremities with coaxial or aligned holes 23, which, as shown in the drawings, are positioned in close proximity to the bottom wall 16. The portions of the side walls 17 that are directly above the holes 23 when the main arms 10 and 11 are in their unfolded position are provided with notches 24. The side portions of the outer end of the bottom wall 16 are struck or deflected downwards in order to form a pair of channels 25. The latter are of progressively increasing depth from the inner ends thereof to their outer ends and have the inner ends thereof terminating adjacent to the holes 23.

The other main arm of the clothes hanger, i.e., the main arm 11, is in the form of a one-piece sheet metal stamping. It is U-shape in crosssection and comprises a substantially flat, rectangular bottom wall 26 and a pair of side walls 27. The side walls 27 are connected to the side margins of the bottom wall 26 and extend at right angles to said bottom wall. The inner end of the main arm 11 is slightly narrower than the central and outer end portions as best. shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings. The inner end of the bottom wall 26 is provided with an integral coplanar extension 28 which forms a stop for preventing the two arms frombeing swung past their unfolded posi: tion wherein they are in longitudinal alignment with one another. The outer end of the bottom wall 26 is bent upwards at right angles to form a flange 29, the ends of relation with, the inner ends of the side walls 17 of the main arm 1th and have coaxial or aligned holes 31 in registering relation with the holes 22. The ends of the.

' extremities of the pivot pin 15 are riveted over in order to form heads 32 for preventing axial displacement of the pivot pin with respect to the two main arms. The outer end portions of =therside walls 27 of the main arm 11 are provided inwards of their outer extremities with coaxial or aligned holes 33. The side portions of the outer end of the bottom wall 26 are struck or deflected downwards in order to form channels 34. The latter progressively increase in depth from the inner ends thereof to their outer ends and have their inner ends disposed adjacent to the holes 33. When the main arms 10 and 11 are in their folded position as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, inclusive, the side walls 27 of the main arm 11 overlap the side walls 17 of the main arm 10, the flange 29 overlaps the flange 26 and the inwardly extending protuberance fits within the socket-like recess 21 in the flange 2t) and serves reangles to the side walls.

which are spaced from the outer ends of the side walls 27.

The central portion of the flange 2? is struck or deflected inwards in order to form a protuberance 30. The main arm 11 is slightly wider and longer than the main arm 10 in order that when the two'arms are swung into their folded position, the main arm 10 nests within the main arm 11. The inner end portions of the side walls 27 of the main arm 11 are disposed outwards of, and in lapped leasably to hold the two main arms in their folded position. The two main arms when in their folded position 'form in effect an elongated case one end of which is closed by the semicylindrical wall 18 and the other end of which is closed by the overlapping flanges 2t) and 29. The extension 28 on the inner end of the bottom wall 26 of the main arm 11 projects an appreciable distance beyond the pivot pin 15. When the two main arms are in their unfolded position, the inner end of the bottom wall 16 of the main arm 1% rests on the extension 28 (see FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive) and coacts therewith to prevent the two (arms from being swung downwards one relatively to the other.

The hook 12. of the hanger is preferably formed of comparatively heavy or stiff wire and serves as a medium or instrumentality for suspending the hanger from an elevated horizontally extending rod or other support (not shown). It is disposed between the inner or proximal ends of the main arms 10 and 11 and consists of a hook part 35 and adepending shank part 36. The lower end of the shank part 36 is shaped to form an eye 37 which extends loosely around the central portion :of the pivot pin 15 in order that the hook is permitted to swing laterally relatively to the main arms 11? and 11. When the main arms are in their unfolded position, the hook 12' extends upwards as shown in FIG. 2. When the two main arms are in their folded position, the hook is disposed between the two main arms as shown in FIG. 4. The diameter of the eye 37 is materially greater than the diameter of the pivot pin in order that the hook may be turned back and forth between an operative position wherein the hook part 35 is in parallel relation with the side walls of the two main arms 19 and 11 and an inoperative position wherein the hook part is disposed at substantially right It is contemplated that when the main arms are in their unfolded position, the hook 12 will be in its operative position. It is also contemplated that as a preliminary to swinging the main arms 19 and 11 into their folded position, the hook will be turned into its inoperative position and then swung downwards (see FIG. 3) into the space between the side walls 27 of the main arm 11. When the hook is swung downwards into the aforementioned space, the notch 19 in the central portion of the semi-cylindrical end wall 18 accommodates and receives the portion of the shank part 36 that is directly outwards of the eye 37. i The eye is confined against displacement lengthwise of the pivot pin by way of a pair of sleeves 33. The latter are mounted on the end portions of the pivot pin and are disposed directly inwards of the inner ends of the side walls 17 of the main arm 10. The hook 12 is of less length than the two main arms in order that it is completely enclosed within the main arms when the latter are in their folded position.

The extension arm 13 is associated with the main arm lib and is formed of comparatively heavy or stiff wire. It is U-shaped and consists of a semicircular intermediate part 39 and a pair of straight parallel side parts 4%). The length of the extension arm 13 ismaterially less than the length of the main arm 10. The outer or free ends of the side parts 49 of the extension arm 13 are bent outwards at right angles to form coaxial trunnions 41 which fit loosely in the holes 23 in the outer end portions of the side walls 17 of the main arm ltl and permit the extension arm 13 to swing back and forth between an open position wherein it extends outwards from, and forms a continuation of, the main arm 10 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) and a closed position wherein it fits within said main arm (see FIG. 3). When the extension arm 13 is in its open position the outer end portions of the sideparts 40 fit within, and are supported by, the channels 2 5. By

reason of the fact that such channels increase in depth from the inner ends thereof to their outer ends, the extension arm 13 when in its open position extends downwards to a small extent with respect to the main aim It The extension arm '14 is associated with the main arm 11 and like the extension arm 13 is for-med of comparatively heavy or stiff wire. It is U-shaped and consists of a semi-circular intermediate part 12 and a pair of straight parallel side parts 43. The length of the extension arm 14 is materially less than the length of the main arm 11. The outer or free ends of the side parts 43 of the extension arm 14 are bent outwards at right angles to form coaxial trunnions 44 which fit loosely in the holes 33 in the outer end portions of the side walls 27 of the main arm 11 and permit the extension arm 14 to swing back and forth between an open position wherein it extends outwards from, and forms a-continuation of, the main arm 11 and a closed position wherein it fits vwithins'a id main arm. When the extension'arm 14 is' in its open position the outer end portions of the side parts 43 fit within, and are supported by, the channels 34. By reason of the fact that such channels increase in depth from the inner ends thereof to their outer ends, the extension arm 14 when in its open position extends downwards to a small extent with respect to the main arm .11.

,When the hanger is in its folded or collapsed position and it is desiredto use the hanger, the main arms 10 and 11 are swung apart into their unfolded position. Thereafter, the hook 12 is swung upwards into a vertical position and then turned into its operative position wherein, as previously pointed out, its hook part is disposed in parallel relation with the side walls of the two main arms. After manipulation of the hook into place, the extension arms 13 and 14 are swung outwards into their open position. When the extension arms are in such position, the hanger is operative to support a garment. When it is desired to fold or collapse the hanger, the extension arms 13 and 14 are first swung inwards into their closed position wherein they fit respectively within the main arms 10 and 11. Thereafter, the hook 12 is turned into its inoperative position and then swung downwards into interfitting relation with the main arm 11. After so manipulating the hook, the two main arms are swung towards one another into their folded position. When the main arms are in such position, the inwardly extending protuberance Ed on the central portion of the flange 29 fits within the socket-like recess 21in the central portion of the flange 2d and thus serves releasably to hold the two main arms into their folded position. When the main arms are in their folded position, the inner portions of the trunnions 44 fit within the notches 24 in the outer end portions of the side walls 17 of the main arm It).

The herein described hanger is essentially simple design and hence may be manufactured or produced at a low cost. It effectively and efiiciently fulfills its intended purpose and due to its particular construction may manipulated into its folded and unfolded .pair of elongated juxtapositioned one piece arms of U- shaped cross section, consisting of comparatively wide bottom walls and side wall-s of materially less height than the bottom walls are wide, adapted to assume an unfolded position wherein they extend outwards in'opposite directions, and constructed and arranged so that one of them is slightly Wider than the other (and has the inner ends of its side walls disposed outwards of, and in lapped relation with, the inner ends of the side Walls of said other arm, a pivot pin having the ends thereof extending through registering holes in the lapped inner ends of the side walls of said arms'and serving to connect said arms so that they are capable of being swung towards and away from one another into and out of a folded position wherein the narrower arm is in completely nested relation with the wider arm, and a norm-ally upstanding hook disposed between the arms, consisting of a hook part and a depending shank part, provided at the lower end of its shank palt with an eye in encircling relation with the central portion of the pivot pin in order that it is free to swing laterally relatively to the arms, and adapted when the arms are in their folded position to fit between said arms, said eye being materiallygreater in diameter than the pivot pin in orderthat the hook may be turned back and forth between an operative position wherein its hookpart is in parallel relation with the side walls of the arms and an inoperative position wherein its hook part extends substantially at right angles to the side walls and, hence, permits the hook as a whole to fit substantially flatly between, and be completely housed by, the arms when the latter are in their folded position, said wider arm having on the inner end of its bottom wall an integral coplanar extension which when the arms are in their unfolded position abuts directly against the inner end of the bottom wall of the narrower arm and forms a stop for preventing said arms from being swung past their unfolded position.

2. As a new article [of manufacture, a clothes hanger adapted when not in use to be folded and comprising a pair of elongated juxtapositioned arms of U-shap'ed'cross section, consisting of comparatively wide bottom walls and side walls of materially less height than the bottom walls are wide, adapted to assume an unfolded position wherein they extend outwards in opposite directions, provided at the outer ends of their bottom walls with normally upwardly extending right angle flanges, and constructed and arranged so that one of them is slightly wider and longer than the other and has the inner ends of its side walls disposed outwards of, and in lapped relation with, the inner ends of the side walls of said other arm, a pivot pin having the ends thereof extending through registering holes in the lapped inner ends of the side walls of the arms and serving to connect said'arms so that they are capable of being swung towards and away from one another into and out of a folded position wherein the narrower arm is in completely nested relation with the wider arm and has its flange in lapped relation with the flange of said wider arm, means between the inner ends of the arms forming a stop for preventing said arms from swinging past theirunfolded position when they are swung away from one another into said unfolded position, and a normally upstanding book of less'len-gth than either of the arms disposed, between the anus, consisting of a hook part and a depending shank part, provided at the lower end of its shank part with an 1 eye inencircling relation with the central portion of the pivot pin in order that it is free to swing laterally relatively to thearms, and adapted when the arms are 1n their folded position to fit entirely between said arms, said eye being materially greater in diameter than the pivot pin in order that the hook may be turned back and forth between an operative position wherein its hook part is in parallel relation with the side walls of the arms and an inoperative position wherein its hook part extends substantially at right angles to the side walls and, hence, permits the hook as a whole to fit substantially flatly between, and be completely housed by, the arms when the latter are in their folded position, one of the flanges being provided with a recess and the other flange being pro-. vided with a coacting protuberance which when the arms are in their folded position fits within the recess and forms therewith a detent for releasably holding said arms in their folded position.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a clothes hanger adapted when not in use to be folded and compris ng a pair of elongated juxtapositioned main arms of U -shaped cross section, consisting of comparatively wide bottom walls and side walls of materially less height than the bottom walls are wide, adapted to assume an unfolded position wherein they extend outwards in opposite directions, having aligned holes in the outer end portions of their side walls, and constructed and arranged so that one of them is slightly wider than the other and has the inner ends of its side walls disposed outwards of, and in lapped relation with, the inner end-s of the side walls of said other main arm, a pivot pin having the ends thereof extending through the lapped inner ends of the side walls of the main arms and serving to connect said main arms so that they are capable of lacing swung towards and away from one another into and out of a folded position wherein the narrower main arm is in completely nested relation with the wider main arm, means between the inner ends of the main arms forming a stop for preventing said main arms from swinging past their unfolded position when they are swung away from one another into said unfolded position, a normally upstanding hook disposed between the main arms, consisting of a hook part and a depending shank part, provided at the lower end of its shank part with an eye in encircling relation with the central portion of the pivot pin in order that it is free to swing laterally relatively to the arms, and adapted when the main arms are in their folded position to fit between said main arms, said eye being materially greater in diameter than the pivot pin in order that the hook may be turned back and forth between an operative position wherein its hook part is in parallel relation with the side walls of the arms and an inoperative position wherein its hook part extends substantially at right angles to the side walls and, hence, permits the hook as a whole to fit substantially flatly between, and be completely housed by, the arms when the latter are in their folded position, and a pair of stitf wire extension arms of U-sh-aped configuration and less length than the main arms, associated with the main arms respectively, and having the outer ends of their side parts bent outwards to form outwardly extending trunnions which fit loosely within the aforesaid hole-s and form therewith pivotal connections whereby said extension arms are capable of being swung back and vforth between an open position wherein they extend outwards from, and form continuations of, the main arms and a closed position wherein they fit within said main arms.

- 4. As a new article of manufacture, a clothes hanger adapted when not in use to be folded and comprising a pair of elongated,juxtapositioned main arms of U-shaped cross section, consisting of comparatively wide bottom walls and side walls of materially less height than the bottom walls are wide, adapted to assume an unfolded position wherein they extend outwards in opposite directions, provided in the outer, end portions of their side walls with aligned holes, having the side portions of the outer ends of the bottom walls thereof deflected downwards to form channels, and construotedand arranged so that one of them is slightly wider than the otherv and has the inner ends of its side walls disposed outwards'of, and in lapped relation with, the inner ends of the side walls of said other main arm, a pivot pin having the ends thereof extending; through the lapped inner ends of the side walls of the main arms and serving to connect said main arms so that they are capable of being swung towards and away from one another into and out of a folded position'wherein the narrower main arm is in completely nested relation with the wider main arm, means between the inner ends of the main arms forming a stop for preventing said main arms from swinging past their unfolded position when they are swung away from one another into said imfolded position, a normally upstanding hook disposed between the main arms, consisting of. a hook part and a depending shank part, provided at the lower end of its shank part with an eye in encircling relation with the central portion of the pivot pin in order that it is free to swing laterally relatively to the arms, and adapted when the main arms are in their folded position to fit between said main arms, said eye being materially greater in diameter than the pivot pin in order that the hook may be turned back and forth between an operative position wherein its hook part is in parallel relation with the side walls of the arms and an inoperative position wherein its hook part extends substantially. at right angles to the side walls, and hence, permits the hook as a whole to fit substantially fiat between, and be completely housed by, the arms when the latter are in their folded position, and a pair of stiff wire extension arms of U-shaped configura tion and less length than the main arm s, associated with the main arms respectively, and having the outer ends of their side parts bent outwards to form trunnions which fit in theaforesaid holes and form therewith pivotal connections whereby the extension arms are permitted to swing back and forth between an open position wherein they extend outwards from, and form continuations of, the main arms and the outer end portions of their side parts fit in the channels and a closed position wherein they fit within said main arms, said channels 'being of progressively increasing depth from their inner ends to their outer ends in order that when the extension arms are in their said open position they extend downwards to a slight extent relatively to said main arms.

References (Jilted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 990,515 Bement Apr. 25, 1911 1,248,577 Vincent Dec. 4, 1917 1,350,219 Gibbs Aug. 17, 1920 1,545,765 Harold July 14, 1925 1,743,234 Porter Ian. 14, 1930 1,809,561 Muller June 9, 1931 2,470,079 Kelsey May 10, 1949

Claims (1)

1. AS A NEW ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE, A CLOTHES HANGER ADAPTED WHEN NOT IN USE TO BE FOLDED AND COMPRISING A PAIR OF ELONGATED JUXTAPOSITIONED ONE-PIECE ARMS OF USHAPED CROSS SECTION, CONSISTING OF COMPARATIVELY WIDE BOTTOM WALLS AND SIDE WALLS OF MATERILLY LESS HEIGHT THAN THE BOTTOM WALLS ARE WIDE, ADAPTED TO ASSUME AN UNFOLDED POSITION WHEREIN THEY EXTEND OUTWARDS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, AND CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED SO THAT ONE OF THEM IS SLIGHTLY WIDER THAN THE OTHER AND HAS THE INNER ENDS OF ITS SIDE WALLS DISPOSED OUTWARDS OF, AND IN LAPPED RELATION WITH, THE INNER ENDS OF THE SIDE WALLS OF SAID OTHER ARM, A PIVOT PIN HAVING THE ENDS THEREOF EXTENDING THROUGH REGISTERING HOLES IN THE LAPPED INNER ENDS OF THE SIDE WALLS OF SAID ARMS AND SERVING TO CONNECT SAID ARMS SO THAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF BEING SWUNG TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER INTO AND OUT OF A FOLDED POSITION WHEREIN THE NARROWER ARM IS IN COMPLETELY NESTED RELATION WITH THE WIDER ARM, CONSISTING OF A HOOK PART AND ITS DISPOSED BETWEEN THE ARMS, AND A NORMALLY UPSTANDING HOOK A DEPENDING SHANK PART, PROVIDED AT THE LOWER END OF IS SHANK PART WITH AN EYE IN ENCIRCLING RELATION WITH THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE PIVOT PIN IN ORDER THAT IT IS FREE TO SWING LATERALLY RELATIVELY TO THE ARMS, AND ADAPTED WHEN THE ARMS ARE IN THEIR FOLDED POSITION TO FIT BETWEEN SAID ARMS, SAID EYE BEING MATERIALLY GREATER IN DIAMETER THAN THE PIVOT PIN IN ORDER THAT THE HOOK MAY BE TURNED BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN AN OPERATIVE POSITION WHEREIN ITS HOOK PART IS IN PARALLEL RELATION WITH THE SIDE WALLS OF THE ARMS AND AN INOPERATIVE POSITION WHEREIN ITS HOOK PART EXTENDS SUBSTANTIALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE SIDE WALLS AND, HENCE, PERMITS THE HOOK AS A WHOLE TO FIT SUBSTANTIALLY FLATLY BETWEEN, AND BE COMPLETELY HOUSED BY, THE ARMS WHEN THE LATTER ARE IN THEIR FOLDED POSITION, SAID WIDER ARM HAVING ON THE INNER END OF ITS BOTTOM WALL AN INTEGRAL COPLANAR EXTENSION WHICH WHEN THE ARMS ARE IN THEIR UNFOLDED POSITION ABUTS DIRECTLY AGAINST THE INNER END OF THE BOTTOM WALL OF THE NARROWER ARM AND FORMS A STOP FOR PREVENTING SAID ARMS FROM BEING SWUNG PAST THEIR UNFOLDED POSITION.

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