US3741449A

US3741449A - Garment hanger

Info

Publication number: US3741449A
Application number: US00225473A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenzie D Mac
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-02-11
Filing date: 1972-02-11
Publication date: 1973-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 1990-06-26

Abstract

A hanger for use in supporting garments, the hanger being provided with a support frame having two oppositely directed frame elements defining downwardly and outwardly sloping surfaces detailed for supporting the shoulder portions of a garment. Retaining means is attached to an intermediate portion of the hanger frame for engaging a hanging loop of a supported garment to accurately center and maintain the garment on the hanger frame. The hanger includes a plurality of horizontally extending support rods extending between the oppositely directed frame elements at a position below the sloping surfaces for supporting additional garments, such as trousers. One of the horizontally extending rods is pivoted at one end and angularly adjustable between a garment supporting position and a garment on and off loading position. The hanger includes releasable latch means for maintaining the pivotal rod in a garment supporting position. Tie support means is provided on the hanger between the oppositely directed frame elements.

Description

United States Patent [191 MacKenzie I GARMENT HANGER [76] Inventor: David D. MacKenzie, l5 Peachtree Avenue, NE, Atlanta, Ga. 30305 [22] Filed: Feb. 11, 1972 [211 App]. No.: 225,473

[52] US. Cl. 223/91 [51] Int. Cl. A47j 51/14 [58] Field of Search 223/88, 89, 91, DIG. l, 223/85, 96

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,142,451 6/1915 Morris 223/91 2,198,107 4/1940 Dockstetter 223/88 1,580,839 4/1926 McKenna 223/DIG. 1 2,920,800 1/1960 Kassardjian 223/88 2,553,282 5/1951 Sokolik 223/91 2,191,714 2/1940 Gustin 223/85 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 478,934 3/1953 Italy 223/91 507,881 12/1954 Canada... 223/88 838,533 4/1970 Canada... 223/9] 460,070 10/1949 Canada.....- 223/88 June 26, 1973 Primary Examiner-George H. Krizmanich Attorney-Edward Taylor Newton, William J. Ormsby et al.

[ 5 7] ABSTRACT A hanger for use in supporting garments, the hanger being provided with a support frame having two oppositely directed frame elements defining downwardly and outwardly sloping surfaces detailed for supporting the shoulder portions of a garment. Retaining means is attached to an intermediate portion of the hanger frame for engaging a hanging loop of a supported garment to accurately center and maintain the garment on the hanger frame. The hanger includes a plurality of horizontally extending support rods extending between the oppositely directed frame elements at a position below the sloping surfaces-for supporting additional 9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures GARMENT HANGER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device employed to support garments in a hanging relationship and more particularly to a device which can support a coat, a tie and at least one pair of trousers.

The common coat hanger usually constructed of a one piece wire configuration is not effective in supporting pants, allowing the pants to be easily dropped and develops an undesirable crease in the pants after they have been supported for a short period of time. Further, a coat or other garment positioned on a wire hanger, having shoulder supporting surfaces, will be easily displaced off-center allowing one of the shoulder portions of the garment to droop, thus presenting an unattractive appearance in the garment after a short period of time.

Another common garment hanger construction includes a wood yoke having a downwardly diverging supporting surface with a cross member connected between the opposite ends for supporting pants, and wherein the cross member is attached at one end with a free end being angularly adjustable and releasably latched in an operable supporting position. One problem with this type prior art hanger is that the cross member is normally supported at one end by an integral length of wire and is frictionally latched at its free end to the wire with an intermediate length of the wire supported in clamping engagement with the cross member when in the latched supporting position. Thus, the clamping relationship between the cross member and wire will develop undesirable creases in pants being supported. Further, the wooden type yoke hangers do not include means for maintaining a coat or other garment in an accurately centered position to prevent shoulder sag in the garment.

None of the prior art hangers include independent means for supporting a coat-type garment, a tie and one or more pairs of pants simultaneously.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above disadvantages of the prior art have been overcome by the present invention which basically includes a frame having two oppositely directed frame elements defining downwardly and outwardly sloping surfaces detailed for supporting the shoulders of a garment and including means located at the center of the frame for engaging the hanging loop of a garment to accurately center and maintain the garment on the frame.

One important feature of the present invention is the construction of the garment hanging loop retaining element so that the retaining element can be moved outwardly of the supporting frame to permit a shirt to be placed therebeneath and can be thereafter moved into position for engagment with the hanging loop of a second garment, such as a coat.

Another important feature of the present invention is the provision of a tie support located between the oppositely directed frame elements, the support having a free end which is upturned to aid in guiding a tie into a supported position.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision of a pair of horizontally and vertically spaced parallel arranged cross-supporting rods utilized for supporting pants, one of the bars being attached at its opposite ends to the frame elements and the other rod being pivotally attached at one end and including a free end which is angularly displaceable to permit a pair of trousers to be easily placed thereon or removed therefrom, and wherein the supporting rods are sufficiently spaced to effectively grip trousers to prevent them from being dropped, without developing undesirable creases.

Another important feature of the present invention is the location of the free end of the trouser supporting rod relative to a hook suspension means whereby the free end will be positioned outwardly toward an individual when in a suspended relationship in a closet so that trousers can be easily placed on or removed therefrom.

A further feature in the utilization of the hanger embodying the principles of the present invention is the ability of removing one shoulder portion of a coat-type supported garment, allowing the garment to be maintained in position on the hanger by the loop retaining element, thereby permitting access to the trouser supporting rod members.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a hanger which is operable for supporting a shirt, a coat, tie and one or more pairs of pants, and wherein the hanger is operable to maintain the coat in an accurately centered position and operable to grip and maintain the pants in a supported position without developing undesirable creases.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a garment hanger which is simple in construction and use, economical to manufacture and reliable in performance.

These and other objects and advantages of the details of construction will become apparent after reading the following description of the illustrative embodiment with reference to the attached drawings wherein like reference numerals have been used to refer to like parts throughout the several figures, and wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a garment hanger embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the garment hanger shown in FIG. 1 utilized in supporting a pair of pants and utilized for supporting a coat, with one shoulder of the coat being removed to permit access to the pants;

F IG. 3 is a schematic cross-section showing two pair of pants supported on the garment hanger shown in FIG 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-section showing a tie supported in position on the garment hanger shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing details of construction of the garment hanger;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the garment hanger;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of horizontal support bars used for supporting pants; and,

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a modified garment loop retaining element.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, the garment hanger embodying the principles of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 and generally represented by the reference numeral 10. The garment hanger 10 will be described with reference to a frame support means 20, 21, etc., a tie support means 60 and a pants support means 80.

As shown in FIG. 1, the frame support means is constructed of a pair of oppositely directed downwardly diverging

frame elements

20, 21, which are connected to each other by conventional means and includes a hanger suspension hook 23 connected at the apex of the frame means. A rod 22 is connected between the extended

ends offrame elements

20, 21. The frame elements are angularly disposed relative to each other both in a horizontal and vertical plane. The upper surface of

frame elements

20, 21 are formed to define downwardly and outwardly sloping

shoulder supporting surfaces

24, 25, and respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1, a retaining element 26 is con nected to the

frame elements

20, 21 below the suspension hook 23. Retaining element 26 is formed from an integral length of wire and includes two vertically extending leg portions 2'7, 28 which are inserted and secured within openings provided on the underside of

frame elements

20, 21. Leg portions 27, 28 extend downwardly a predetermined distance and are then bent upwardly to form two upward converging

leg portions

29, 30. Leg portions 29, 31) are integrally connected by a cross-connecting element 31. The upwardly converging

leg portions

29, 30 are bent outwardly to angle away from the frame means whereby a garment hanging loop can be inserted thereover, as shown in FIG. 2. The retaining element 26 is detailed in location to engage the garment hanging loop for accurately centering and maintaining a supported gar ment on the

shoulder supporting surfaces

24, 25.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 6, a modified loop retaining element is shown and generally represented by the reference numeral 32. The garment loop retaining element 32 is constructed of an intergral piece of wire and includes a pair of upwardly extending leg portions 33, 34 which terminate into a pair of inwardly directed coaxially aligned

pivot support elements

35, 36. The

pivot support elements

35, 36 are adapted to be received within complementary openings formed on the upper surface of

frame elements

20, 21. Garment loop retaining element 32 also includes a pair of upwardly converging

leg members

37, 38 which are connected by a cross-connecting member 39. The garment loop retaining element 32 is operable for accurately centering and maintaining a supported garment in position on the shoulder supporting surfaces in the same manner as described above in regard to retaining element 26. Garment loop retaining element 32 is pivoted to the frame support means so that the retaining element can be outwardly displaced from the frame means to permit a first supported garment such as a shirt to be positioned on the frame means, with the retaining element 32 being thereafter moved to the original loop supporting position, to permit a coat to be supported thereover with the loop of the coat engaging the retaining element 32.

As shown in FIG. 8, a second embodiment of a gar ment loop retaining element is shown and generally represented by the reference numeral 40. The garment loop retaining element 40 is constructed of an integral piece of flat material, such as metal, which is bent along an intermediate portion at 41 to define a pair of upwardly diverging elements 42, 43. Element 43 is detailed to include a pair of upwardly converging side edges 44, 45 which define a loop engaging and retaining means.

Element 42 forms an attachment means which will permit the retaining element 40 to be attached to the side of the frame means in the center thereof by conventional connecting means, such as nails or screws 46. Attachment element 42 is provided with split 47 which defines a pair of attachment portions 48, 49 which are overlapped when attached. The overlapping end portions 48, 49 are connected in such a manner that internal stresses will be developed in the retaining element 40 whereby the retaining element can be moved from a downwardly hanging loop supporting position (shown in the solid lines of FIG. 8), wherein the elements 42 and 43 diverge upwardly relative to each other and can be displaced outwardly (shown in dotted lines of FIG. 8), wherein the elements 42, 43 are held in abutting contact with each other. The movement of the retaining element 40 from a first downwardly hanging position to an outwardly adjusted position will permit a first garment, such as a shirt, to be positioned on the shoulder supporting surfaces with the collar positioned beneath the retaining element 40, with the retaining element 40 being thereafter moved to the downwardly hanging position to permit a second garment with a hanging loop to be supported thereon by the hanging loop engaging element 43.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the garment hanger of the present invention includes a tie support means generally represented by the reference numeral 60. Tie support means 60 is constructed of an integral length of wire which is doubled back on itself to define three horizontally spaced

leg members

61, 62 and 63.

Leg members

61, 63 define outer leg members while the leg member 62 defines an inner leg member.

Leg members

61, 62 are joined by a curved loop 64 and

leg members

62, 63 are joined by a curved loop 65. Loop 65 is bent slightly upward to provide a guiding end which will permit the tie to be inserted thereover and to be moved laterally into a supporting position relative to leg members 61-63 (FIG. 4), as will be described below. The free ends of

leg members

61, 63 include upwardly

bent end portions

66, 67 which are inserted and secured in complementary openings formed in

frame elements

20, 21. The

leg members

61, 63 are slightly bent in a horizontal direction

adjacent end portions

66, 67 in order to maintain the tie supporting legs within the plane of the back of the hanger.

As shown in FIG. 4, a tie is supported on the support means 60 by folding the tie transversely across an intermediate area thereof, with the heavy end of the tie on top. The loop portion of the tie is placed over the upwardly bent loop end 65 and the tie is moved laterally to the right as shown in FIG. 1 until the tie is substantially centered along the supporting legs 61-63. In a supporting position, both ends of the tie will be placed over the supporting leg 63, with the heavy end passing over

legs

61, 62 and the small end passing beneath

legs

61, 62 and over leg 63 under the heavy end of the tie.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1-3 and 5, the garment hanger 10 includes a rod supporting means utilized for supporting a pair of pants beneath the outwardly directed

frame elements

20, 21 and beneath the cross-connecting rod 22. The rod support means is generally represented by the reference numeral and includes fixed rod 81. Fixed rod 81 is connected to said oppositely directed

frame elements

20, 21 by a pair of formed wire elements 02, 83, one extending from each end of rod 81. Each of the

wire elements

82, 83 extend from the opposite ends of the rod 01 in a first axial direction (FIG. 5) then curves angularly in a horizontal plane so that the two wire elements diverge outwardly, and with the extended ends of the wire elements including upwardly curved leg portions 84, 05, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1, the leg portions 8 1, 85 are inserted within complementary openings within the extended

frame elements

20, 21 and are secured therein by conventional adhesive means. The wire elements 32, 03 include upstanding loops 86, 07, respectively, formed in the diverging portion. Each of the loops is oriented in a vertical plane with the vertically extending

leg portions

84, 85 and are spaced therefrom to define upwardly opened recessed means.

The rod supporting means includes an adjustable support rod 90 pivotally attached at one end to wire element leg portion 85, with the opposite end of rod 90 being received within the recess formed in wire element 82. Rod element 90 is pivotally mounted on the leg 85 by providing an opening in the end of the rod and inserting the leg element therethrough as shown in FIG. 5. Rod element 90 is maintained in a vertically adjusted position by means of a formed detent 92. When adjustable rod 90 is in a trouser supported position as shown in FIG. 1, rod 90 is both horizontally and vertically spaced relative to rod 81 and is oriented substantially parallel thereto. In a trouser supported position, the rods are spaced relative to each other to provide sufficient room for the trouser leg portions to pass therethrough without developing undesirable creases in the trousers.

Rod 90 is adjustable relative to rod 01 by lifting the free end of rod 90 from its frictionally latched position within wire element 02 and pivoting the rod outward, as shown in FIG. 5, so that the rod crosses over rod 01. Loop 87 provides a limit stop means for limiting the pivotal displacement of rod 90 over rod 01. When rod 90 is moved to an adjusted position over rod 01, rod 01 will provide a bearing surface beneath rod 90 to prevent unwanted downward movement of the rod. The formed detent 92 will also prevent rod 90 from being displaced upwardly on leg portion 05.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 3, a first pair of pants is supported on the

rods

81, 90 by folding the pants transversely across the leg portions in a conventional manner, placing the body end of the legs on top, and inserting the loop formed in the folded pants over rod 90. After the pants are moved laterally into position on bar 90, the bar is again returned to the supported position with the free end of the bar placed in the frictional latching recess formed in wire element 02. As shown in FIG. 3, when only one pair of pants is supported, both folded portions of the pants will pass over the fixed bar 81 with the loop portion passing around bar 90. Should it be necessary to support two pairs of pants on hanger 10, the first pair will be placed by folding the pants to form a loop, placing a loop portion over the cross-connecting rod 22 and allowing the folded portions to pass over fixed rod 01. With the first pair of pants placed in position, the next pair can then be positioned on the adjustable rod as described above and moved to a supported position, as shown in FIG. 3. With two pairs of pants supported by the hanger 10, the first pair will be supported as described above and the second pair loop portion will surround crossconnecting rod 22, pass underneath rod and over rod 01. The above described rod means for supporting one or two pairs of pants will effectively hold the pants in a secured position without developing undesirable creases.

As shown in FIG. 6, the rod means 00 can be attached to the

frame elements

21, 22 by forming openings in the extended end of

wire leg portions

84, 85 and inserting conventional connecting screw means 93 therethrough into the frame elements.

As shown in FIG. 7, a modified rod supporting means is provided for attachment to the hanger frame such as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The modified rod support means is generally represented by the reference numeral and is constructed of an integral length of wire material which defines three substantially parallel arranged, horizontally oriented

rod portions

101, 102, and 103. The rod portions 101-103 are horizontally spaced relative to each other to define an intermediate rod portion 102 and two

outer rod portions

101, 103. Intermediate rod portion 102 includes a curved loop 104 at one end which is integrally connected with outer rod portion 101. The opposite end of intermediate rod portion 102 is connected by an integrally curved loop 105 to the other outer rod portion 103. The extended ends of

outer rod portions

101, 103 are provided with integrally formed upwardly curved vertically oriented

leg portions

106, 107, respectively. The upper ends of

leg portions

106, 107 are provided with formed

loops

108, 109 which are adapted to receive conventional screw means 110 for attaching the rod means 100 to a hanger support frame.

As shown in FIG. 7, the outer rod portion 101 is provided with an upwardly curved downwardly opened loop portion 111 which is located in spaced relationship relative to leg 106 for defining a latching recess therebetween. The loop 104 formed between the intermediate rod portion 102 and outer rod portion 101 is detailed to extend around leg portion 107 to define a pivotal axis for permitting angular adjustment of the intermediate rod portion 101 and the other outer rod portion 103, whereby the free loop end 105 and rod portions 102, 103 can be angularly adjusted by the axis of leg 107 to permit the rod to be displaced outwardly to a pants on and off loading position.

As shown in FIG. 7, the distance between upwardly formed loop 111 and leg 106 is detailed such that the latching recess formed thereby will frictionally engage and retain the rod portions 102, 103 in a releasable latching condition when moved to an operable pants supporting position. In the operable pants supporting position, the rod portions 101-103 are supported substantially parallel relative to each other, with sufficient space being provided between outer rod 101 and intermediate rod 102 to permit the leg portions of trousers to pass therethrough for supporting the trousers without developing undesirable creases. A pair of pants is supported on the rod means 100 in substantially the same manner as described above in regard to the rod supporting means 00.

In the garment supporting hanger of each of the above described embodiments, the hook 23 is fixed to frame

elements

20, 21 so that the rod receiving opening of the hook is always preferably directed toward the pivot axis of the adjustable rod means 90, 102, and 103. With the hook 23 fixed in this manner, the free end of the adjustable rod means is always directed outwardly toward the person using the hanger and will permit trousers to be removed from or added to the hanger with one hand or by a one arm person without removing the hanger from its supported position. A pair of trousers is removed from or added to the hanger by removing the outwardly disposed shoulder portion of a supported coat from frame element 20 (as shown in FIG. 2) allowing the hanging

loop engaging means

26, 32 or 40 to retain the coat on the hanger. The adjustable rod means is then displaced to an angularly disposed open position (FIG. 5), to permit a pair of trousers to be removed from or placed thereon from a position outwardly of the hanger supported position. After the trousers have been removed from or added to the adjustable rod means, the rod is returned to a closed trouser supporting position (FIGS. 1, 6 and 7) and the coat is returned to a supported condition.

It is obvious that the garment hanger embodying the principles of the present invention can easily be used with a garment bag having a zipper along one edge to permit a person to remove or add trousers to the adjustable rod means by one hand in a manner as described above.

It now becomes apparent that the above described illustrative embodiments of the present invention are capable of obtaining the above stated objects and advantages. It is obvious that those skilled in the art may make modifications in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention which is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A hanger for use in supporting garments, said hanger including a support frame having two oppositely directed frame elements defining downwardly and outwardly sloping surfaces detailed for supporting the shoulder portions of a garment and including means located on an intermediate portion of said frame for engaging a hanging loop of a supported garment to accurately center and maintain said garment on said frame, said hanger including horizontally extending rod means supported between said oppositely directed frame ele ments and disposed below said sloping surface for supporting an additional garment, such as trousers, said horizontally extending rod means being formed from an integral length of material to define three substantially parallel arranged horizontally oriented rod portions, a curved loop connecting the intermediate one of said rod portions at one of its ends to an outer rod portion, a second curved loop connecting said intermediate rod portion at its other end to the other outer rod portion, the free end of one outer rod portion including an upwardly formed leg portion which is attached to one of said oppositely directed frame elements, the free end of said other outer rod portion including an upwardly formed leg portion which is attached to said other oppositely directed frame element, the loop formed between. the intermediate portion and one outer rod portion extending around one of said upwardly formed leg portions to define a pivotal axis for permitting angular adjustment of said intermediate rod portion and said other outer rod portion, the other upwardly form ed leg portion being formed to include frictionally engageable latch means for maintaining said rod portions in an operable garment supporting position.

2. A hanger as in claim 1 wherein said loop engaging means includes an integrally formed element having an upwardly directed and outwardly bent retaining element defining upwardly converging sides.

3. A hanger as in claim 1 including a tie supporting means attached to an intermediate portion of said support frame.

4. A hanger as in claim 3 wherein said tie supporting means is constructed of an integral length of material folded back over itself to form three parallel spaced rods.

5. A hanger for use in supporting garments, said hanger including a support frame having two oppositely directed frame elements defining downwardly and outwardly sloping surfaces detailed for supporting the shoulder portions of a grament and including means located on an intermediate portion of said frame for engaging a hanging loop of a supported garment to accu rately center and maintain said garment on said frame, said frame elements being flat and of substantial thickness, with their flat faces vertically positioned and their upper edges forming the garment supporting areas, said loop engaging means comprising an intermediate hook forming portion having two downwardly extending legs, and an upwardly extending portion joined to the bottom of each leg, each of said upwardly extending portions being bent inwardly at its upper end, said bent portions extending toward each other and being coaxially positioned, the edges of said frame elements being provided adjacent their upper ends with coaxial horizontally extending openings and said bent portions being rotatably positioned in said openings, whereby said loop engaging means can be pivoted about said bent portions from a position adjacent said frame elements to a position removed therefrom sufficiently to permit a garment such as a shirt to be placed over said frame elements and under said loop engaging means.

6. A hanger as in claim 5 including a tie supporting means attached to an intermediate portion of said support frame.

7. A hanger as in claim 6 including horizontally oriented rod means connected between said frame elements for supporting an additional garment such as trousers.

8. A hanger for use in supporting garments, said hanger including a support frame having two oppositely directed frame elements defining downwardly and outwardly sloping surfaces detailed for supporting the shoulder portions of a garment and including means located on an intermediate portion of said frame for engaging a hanging loop of a supported garment to accurately center and maintain said garment on said frame, said loop engaging means being constructed of flat material folded to provide a hook portion and an attaching portion, said latter portion being attached to said frame and including a split which defines a pair of attachment portions which are overlapped when attached so that internal stresses will be developed whereby said loop engaging element can be positioned adjacent said frame elements or bent outwardly to a position in which a shirt may be placed under it and supported on the hanger, said internal stressing causing said loop engaging means to remain in whichever one of these positions it is moved to.

9. A hanger as in claim 8 including horizontally oriented rod means connected between said frame elements for supporting an additional garment.

Claims

1. A hanger for use in supporting garments, said hanger including a support frame having two oppositely directed frame elements defining downwardly and outwardly sloping surfaces detailed for supporting the shoulder portions of a garment and including means located on an intermediate portion of said frame for engaging a hanging loop of a supported garment to accurately center and maintain said garment on said frame, said hanger including horizontally extending rod means suppOrted between said oppositely directed frame elements and disposed below said sloping surface for supporting an additional garment, such as trousers, said horizontally extending rod means being formed from an integral length of material to define three substantially parallel arranged horizontally oriented rod portions, a curved loop connecting the intermediate one of said rod portions at one of its ends to an outer rod portion, a second curved loop connecting said intermediate rod portion at its other end to the other outer rod portion, the free end of one outer rod portion including an upwardly formed leg portion which is attached to one of said oppositely directed frame elements, the free end of said other outer rod portion including an upwardly formed leg portion which is attached to said other oppositely directed frame element, the loop formed between the intermediate portion and one outer rod portion extending around one of said upwardly formed leg portions to define a pivotal axis for permitting angular adjustment of said intermediate rod portion and said other outer rod portion, the other upwardly formed leg portion being formed to include frictionally engageable latch means for maintaining said rod portions in an operable garment supporting position.

5. A hanger for use in supporting garments, said hanger including a support frame having two oppositely directed frame elements defining downwardly and outwardly sloping surfaces detailed for supporting the shoulder portions of a grament and including means located on an intermediate portion of said frame for engaging a hanging loop of a supported garment to accurately center and maintain said garment on said frame, said frame elements being flat and of substantial thickness, with their flat faces vertically positioned and their upper edges forming the garment supporting areas, said loop engaging means comprising an intermediate hook forming portion having two downwardly extending legs, and an upwardly extending portion joined to the bottom of each leg, each of said upwardly extending portions being bent inwardly at its upper end, said bent portions extending toward each other and being coaxially positioned, the edges of said frame elements being provided adjacent their upper ends with coaxial horizontally extending openings and said bent portions being rotatably positioned in said openings, whereby said loop engaging means can be pivoted about said bent portions from a position adjacent said frame elements to a position removed therefrom sufficiently to permit a garment such as a shirt to be placed over said frame elements and under said loop engaging means.