US3421669A

US3421669A - Garment hanger

Info

Publication number: US3421669A
Application number: US525424A
Authority: US
Inventors: James H Ogg
Original assignee: PAKLINE CORP
Current assignee: PAKLINE CORP
Priority date: 1966-02-07
Filing date: 1966-02-07
Publication date: 1969-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 1986-01-14

Description

GARMENT HANGER Filed Feb. 7. 1966 37 INVENTOR.

' FIG. 4 JAMES H. 066

BY. 8mm flwzzu' w ATTORNEYS United States Patent Claims This invention relates generally to garment hangers and more particularly to an improved hanger particularly adapted to hold trousers, skirts, and the like.

Many garment hangers have been proposed which attempt to overcome the problem of clothes falling from the hangers. Towards that end, hangers have been provided with clamps, springs, clips, and similar devices to which a garment is attached to thereby secure it to the hanger. Such devices, while adequately securing the garment to the hanger, are often awkward tomanipulate and, moreover, often comprise relatively complex arrangements which increase the cost of the hanger. Further, these devices increase the possibility of tearing the garment in attempting to remove the same from the hanger.

-With the foregoing in mind, it is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide an improved garment hanger in which the foregoing problems are overcome.

More particularly, it is an object to provide a garment hanger particularly adapted for supporting skirts, trousers, and the like so that they hang in a wrinkle-free manner while additionally providing means for hanging skirts, slips, and the like.

Another object is to provide a novel hanger incorporating integrally constructed gripping means for securely holding garments without the use of clips, clamps, pins, or the like to the end that the garment will not be wrinkled, snagged, or inadvertently torn, and to enable labor saving.

Another object is to provide a novel hanger which, in accordance with the preceding object, is inexpensive and simple and rugged in construction.

Still a further object is to provide a hanger which may be integrally formed by plastic molding or the like thereby lending itself to mass production.

Briefly, these and many other objects and advantages of this invention are attained by providing a garment hanger having a symmetrical bowed frame portion to which a hook member is secured for hanging the hanger from a rod or support. The bowed frame portion may include a pair of spaced slots for receiving the straps of slips and the like, in addition to holding a blouse in a conventional manner.

The garment hanger includes novel integral means for gripping and supporting trousers, skirts, and the like so that the same will hang in a smooth, natural manner. Towards this end, a pair of generally parallel, vertically spaced members have their outer ends integrally secured to each end of the bowed frame portion and extend towards each other in longitudinal alignment. The inner ends of each pair of members are coupled to an intermediate portion of the bowed frame portion and are disposed in spaced opposed relationship to provide a space defined in the central portion of the hanger for receiving a garment. With such a construction, the garment may be slipped between the vertically spaced members, which then hold the garment in place.

The frame portion and gripping means of the hanger are preferably constructed of a molded plastic material and are formed in such a manner that the portions comprising the gripping means are resilient such that a springlike gripping action is provided.

A better understanding of the invention will now be 3,421,669 Patented Jan. 14, 1969 had by referring to a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the novel garment hanger in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken in the direction of arrows 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG- URE 2 and showing a portion of the gripping means of the hanger in an expanded position prior to receiving a garment; and,

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the garment hanger of FIGURE 1 receiving and supporting a garment thereon.

:Referring first to FIGURES l and 2, there is shown a garment hanger 10 including a symmetrical bowed frame member 11 having a central or intermediate portion 12. The frame member 11 terminates in

end portions

13 and 14, respectively, which are eq-ui-distantly spaced from the central portion 12.

A pair of

braces

15 and 16 are joined to the frame 11 and extend upwardly into integral connection with a crossbrace 17. A hook member 18 is rotatably secured to the cross-brace 17 to extend upwardly for engaging a rod or support to thus suspend the hanger in a conventional manner.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the

braces

15, 16, and 17 are arranged with respect to the top portion of the frame member 11 so as to define a space 19 which may be used to receive a card, label, or plastic insert for identifying the size or style of the .garment on the hanger. Such use is particularly adapted for commercial sales wherein the buyer may readily identify the size or style of the garment on the hanger, or wherein a trademark or trade name, for example, may be publicized.

A pair of transversely bowed

support members

20 and 21 are joined to the frame member 11 adjacent to the central portion 12 and extend downwardly to terminate in

lower end portions

22 and 23, respectively. The

support members

20 and 21 preferably extend at an angle with respect to each other to thus define a generally triangular space 24, as shown. The transverse curvature of the support members is best shown in FIGURE 2 wherein the support member 21 is shown in a side elevational view. The purpose of the arrangement of the

support members

20 and 21 will become clearer as the description proceeds.

A first lower frame member 25 is integrally joined to the end portion 13 of the frame member 11 and extends inwardly along a portion of the longitudinal extent of the frame member 11 into integrally joined connection with the lower end portion 22 of the support member 20. In a similar manner, a second lower frame member 26 extends between the end portion 14 of the frame member 11 and the lower end portion 23 of the support member 21. The

lower frame members

25 and 26 are arranged in longitudinal alignment with each other and are disposed in the plane of the bowed frame member 11.

In conjunction with the above-described arrangement, the garment hanger includes integral means for gripping and holding a garment against the lower frame members. Towards this end, a first elongated jaw member 27 is integrally secured to the end portion 13 of the frame member 11 and is arranged to extend in vertically spaced, parallel relation to the first lower frame member 25. The jaw member 27 is preferably slightly offset from the plane of the

frame members

11 and 25 and terminates in an end portion 28 which is integrally secured to a support brace 29 extending upwardly into integral connection with the frame member 11.

The jaw member 27 may include an elongated flange portion 30 which projects laterally to overlap a portion of the lower frame member 25.

In a similar manner, a second jaw member 31 is integrally secured to the end portion 14 of the frame member 11 and extends in vertically spaced, parallel relation to the lower frame member 26. The jaw member 31 terminates in an end portion 32 which is integrally secured to the frame member 11 by means of a support brace 33. The jaw member 31 may also include an elongated flange portion 34 similar to the flange portion 30 as described above.

In order to accommodate slips and the like, the frame member 11 may include a pair of spaced

hook portions

35 and 36 for receiving the straps of a slip in the conventional manner.

The garment hanger is preferably made of a molded plastic material and is constructed such that the

jaw members

27 and 31 and the

support braces

29 and 32 are resilient, whereby the jaw members may be flexed away from the lower frame members so that a garment may be received therebetween.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the jaw member 31 is normally disposed above the lower frame member 26 in a slightly offset position. As shown in FIGURE 3, the jaw member 31 and suport brace 33 may be flexed rearwardly to provide a space for receiving a garment between the jaw member 31 and lower frame member 26. Upon release of the jaw member, it will tend to move back to the position of FIGURE 2, thus gripping the garment to hold it in place. It will, of course, be understood that the other jaw member 27 functions in the same manner.

A clearer understanding of the manner in which a garment is held by the hanger will be had by referring to FIGURE 4 which shows the top portion of a garment 37 being supported by the hanger 1%). The garment 37 is held in the position shown by means of the

jaw members

27 and 31 resiliently urging the garment against the

lower frame members

25 and 26. It will be apparent that the flange portions 30 and 34-shown in FIGURES 1 through 3will assist in preventing the garment from slipping and falling from between the jaw members and lower frame members. If desired, the

flange portions

30 and 34 may be serrated or similarly formed to increase the gripping engagement on the garment.

The garment 37 may be positioned on the hanger in the following manner: The top portion of the garment may be folded longitudinally in the center and moved upwardly in the direction of arrow A into the space 24. The garment itself will then flex the jaw members to the position shown in FIGURE 3 as the edges of the garment are pulled in the directions of arrows B and C, respectively, to thus unfold the garment to the position shown in FIGURE 4. It is apparent that the curvature of the

support members

20 and 21 facilitates the movement of the edges of the garment between the

jaw members

27 and 31 and the

lower frame members

25 and 26. The garment may be quickly and easily removed from the hanger by simply pulling the edges of the garment inwardly to the space 24 to thus free the garment from the hanger, or by pulling it downwardly until it is free of the gripping action of the

jaw members

27 and 31.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that this invention provides a novel hanger incorporating simple and effective means for securely supporting garments, such as trousers, skirts, and the like without requiring clips,

springs, clamps, and similar conventional devices. Moreover, the hanger is adapted to support other garments, such as slips and shirts.

Various changes falling within the scope and spirit of this invention will occur to those skilled in the art. The improved garment hanger is, therefore, not to be thought of as limited to the specific embodiment set forth.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved garment hanger adapted for holding a garment in a suspended position, comprising: a bowed frame member terminating in opposite end portions spaced apart to define a longitudinal extent of said bowed frame member; hook means secured to said frame member; lower frame means coupled to said opposite end portions of said bowed frame member, said lower frame means having a length less than said longitudinal extent of said bowed frame member; an elongated gripping means coupled to said opposite end portions of said bowed frame member in vertically spaced relation to said lower frame means, said gripping means being resiliently movable with respect to said lower frame means for receiving a garment between said lower frame means and said gripping means, wherein said garment is gripped therebetween when said gripping means is moved towards said lower frame means; and a pair of support members extending downwardly from said bowed frame member into connected relation with said lower frame means, said support members being angularly spaced to define a generally triangular space for receiving said garment in a folded position, wherein said garment may be unfolded to extend between said gripping means and said lower frame means.

2. The subject matter of claim 1, in which said gripping means includes a pair of longitudinally aligned jaw members terminating, respectively, in end portions being spaced apart for receiving said support members therebetween.

3. The subject matter of claim 2, including elongated flange portions on said jaw members for gripping said garment.

4. An improved garment hanger adapted for holding a garment in a suspended position, comprising: a symmetrical downwardly bowed frame member terminating in end portions being equi-distantly spaced from the central portion of said frame member; a pair of brace members joined to said frame member and extending upwardly therefrom; a cross-brace connecting the upper ends of said brace members, said cross-brace, brace members, and frame member defining an open space; a hook member secured to said cross-brace and extending upwardly therefrom; a pair of transversely bowed support members joined to the central portion of said frame member and extending downwardly at an angle with respect to each other, said support members terminating in lower end portions disposed in the plane of said frame member; a first lower frame member extending between one of said lower end portions and one of said end portions of said bowed frame member; a second lower frame member extending between the other of said lower end portions and the other of said end portions of said bowed frame member, said first and second lower frame members extending in longitudinal alignment with each other and being disposed in said plane; first and second elongated jaw members joined at first given points, respectively, to said end portions of said bowed frame member and extending in closely spaced parallel relation to said first and second lower frame members respectively; and support braces joined to said bowed frame member and extending downwardly into connection with said first and second elongated jaw members, respectively at second given points spaced from said first given points, said support braces and said first and second jaw members being constructed of resilient material whereby they may be flexed to a position beyond said plane for receiving a top portion of a garment between said first and second lower frame members and said first and second jaw members, wherein said garment is gripped therebetween when said first and second jaw members are flexed back towards said plane.

5. The subject matter of claim 4, in which said first' and second jaw members each includes an elongated flange portion for gripping said garment.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,605,918 11/1926 Buchanan 22391 3,023,912 3/1962 Sebastian 223-96 XR 2,812,888 11/1957 Henderson 22388 PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. AN IMPROVED GARMENT HANGER ADAPTED FOR HOLDING A GARMENT IN A SUSPENDED POSITION, COMPRISING: A BOWED FRAME MEMBER TERMINATING IN OPPOSITE END PORTIONS SPACED APART TO DEFINE A LONGITUDINAL EXTENT OF SAID BOWED FRAME MEMBER; HOOK MEANS SECURED TO SAID FRAME MEMBER; LOWER FRAME MEANS COUPLED TO SAID OPPOSITE END PORTIONS OF SAID BOWED FRAME MEMBER, SAID LOWER FRAME MEANS HAVING A LENGTH LESS THAN SAID LONGITUDINAL EXTENT OF SAID BOWED FRAME MEMBER; AN ELONGATED GRIPPING MEANS COUPLED TO SAID OPPOSITE END PORTIONS OF SAID BOWED FRAME MEMBER IN VERTICALLY SPACED RELATION TO SAID LOWER FRAME MEANS, SAID GRIPPING MEANS BEING RESILIENTLY MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID LOWER FRAME MEANS FOR RECEIVING A GARMENT BETWEEN SAID LOWER FRAME MEANS AND SAID GRIPPING MEANS, WHEREIN SAID GARMENT IS GRIPPED THEREBETWEEN WHEN SAID GRIPPING MEANS IS MOVED TOWARDS SAID LOWER FRAME MEANS; AND A PAIR OF SUPPORT MEMBERS EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID BOWED FRAME MEMBER INTO CONNECTED RELATION WITH SAID LOWER FRAME MEANS, SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS BEING ANGULARLY SPACED TO DEFINE A GENERALLY TRIANGULAR SPACE FOR RECEIVING AND GARMENT IN A FOLDED POSITION, WHEREIN SAID GARMENT MAY BE UNFOLDED TO EXTEND BETWEEN SAID GRIPPING MEANS AND SAID LOWER FRAME MEANS.