US3859710A

US3859710A - Garment loader for hangers

Info

Publication number: US3859710A
Application number: US397087A
Authority: US
Inventors: John H Batts; Judd F Garrison
Original assignee: John Thomas Batts Inc
Current assignee: Batts Inc
Priority date: 1973-09-13
Filing date: 1973-09-13
Publication date: 1975-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 1992-01-14

Abstract

A loader for securing hangers to garments with the hangers having clamps for gripping the garment, the clamps having a movable jaw and a locking clip slidable over the jaw, utilizes a closure element having a jaw engager-closer and a locking clip engager-displacer. After the jaw engager-closer forces the jaw into a closed clamping position, the locking clip engagerdisplacer slides the locking member into a position which locks the jaw. Closure of the clamp and shifting of the locking clip into locked position is accomplished sequentially in a single mono-directional movement of the closure element.

Description

I United States Patent 1191 1111 3,859,710

Batts et al. Jan. 14, 1975 [5 GARMENT LOADER FOR HANGERS 3,501,827 3/1970 Munse 29/225 [75] Inventors: ga s: 3' $2 1 fiztfi Primary Examiner-James L. Jones, Jr.

p Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Price, lI-leneveld, Huizenga I73] Assigncc: John Thomas Batts, Inc., Zeeland, & Cooper Mich.

221 Filed: Sept. 13, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT A loader for securing hangers to garments with the [21] Appl' No; 397,087 hangers having clamps for gripping the garment, the

clamps having a movable jaw and a locking clip slid- [521 0.5. CI. 29/235 eble ever ihe i utilizes e closure elemeni having a [51 lm. Cl 823p 19/02 j meager-closer and a locking p engager- [58] Field of Search 29/230, 238, 225, 229, displacer- After the j engager-closer forces the j 29 5 into a closed clamping position, the locking clip engager-displacer slides the locking member into a po- 5 References Cited sition which locks the jaw. Closure of the clamp and UNITED STATES PATENTS shifting of the locking clip into locked position is ac- 1077 complished sequentially in a single mono directional 1,205,5 3 gleurllaalg yet al 29/235 X movement of the Closure element. 217701032 11/1956 Kell ..........,.....I.II 29/235 25 Claims, 9 Drawing; Figures PATENTED JAN I 41975 SHEET 10F 3 I FIGJ.

FIG. 3.

GARMENT LOADER FOR HANGERS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION U.S. patent application Ser. No. 390,541 filed Aug. 22, 1973, entitled ONE-PIECE PIVOTED HOOK HANGER and assigned to John Thomas Batts, Inc., discloses a particular type of hanger useful with this invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention This invention pertains to U.S. Pat. Office Class 223, relating to APPAREL APPARATUS.

ll. Description of the Prior Art The loader of this invention was developed to solve the problem of attaching hangers to garments by simple mechanical methods. Prior to this invention, the attachment or securing of hangers having a clamp for gripping the garment, wherein the clamp has a movable jaw and locking member, was limited to manual manipulation of the hanger elements. This invention provides a mechanical means of securing hangers to garments which is much faster and more efficient than the prior manual method.

The inventor is not aware of any United States patent which teaches this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I. General Statement of the Invention A loader for securing hangers to garments, wherein the hangers have at least one clamp for gripping the garments and the clamp has a movable jaw and a locking member slidable toward the open end of the jaw, utilizes a closure element having a jaw engaging and closing means and locking member engaging means and displacement means, wherein the jaw-engaging and closing means and the locking member engaging and displacement means are mounted for sequential operation. The jaw engaging and closing means forces the jaw into a closed position and the locking member engaging and displacement means slides the locking member into a jaw-locking position. The invention reduces the operators functions to two simple operations and greatly speeds up the mounting of the hangers. Further, the machine positively assures proper installation of the hanger, eliminating the problem of improperly mounted ones.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of the loader in an open or retracted, unloaded position;

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation view of the loader taken along the plane Il-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the loader in retracted position with a hanger ready for garment attachment;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation view of the loader closure elements and the hanger locking and jaw elements taken along the plane IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the loader and a hanger in partially advanced, garment-clamping positron;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevation view of the loader closure elements taken along the plane VI-Vl of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the loader and a hanger in the fuller extended, garment clamp locking position;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional elevation view of the loader closure elements and the hanger jaw taken along the plane VIIIVIII of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a frontal elevation view ofthe loader in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT This invention is specifically designed for mounting garments on hangers having a garment clamping structure which the machine closes to secure the garment. The loader 1 utilizes a base 10 on which a garments hanger supporting platform 20 is slidably mounted for fore and aft reciprocal motion. The hanger 10 is seated on the platform as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and as the platform is shifted rearwardly by the operator, the loader l first wipes the clamping jaw 41 of the hanger to garment securing position and then secures the locking clip 42 to hold the clamp 43 shut. The platform is biased to automatically return to its forward or loading position.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, the numeral 1 refers to the loader of this invention. The loader 1 has a base 10 which may be supported on any convenient surface. The base 10 may be permanently secured to its support or simply restrained against movement during closure of the hanger clamps by an extension 13 which seats over the edge of the support.

The platform 20 is mounted to the base by the low friction slides 50 which support and guide the platform for easy fore and aft movement with respect to the base. The structure of the slides Sill is described in more detail subsequently.

A tension spring 30 is secured at one end, shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, by suitable means such as screw 31 to base 10 and at the other end, shown in FIG. 2, by similar means such as screw 32 to platform 20. The tension spring 30 biases platform 20 forwardly. Forward movement of the platform is limited by stop wall 57 (FIG. 10). In this forward or loading position, the forward edge of the platform projects beyond the forward edge of the base 10. The loader in loading position is illustrated in FIG. 1.

Platform 20 has a high friction surface 21 which aids in holding the garment in position for securing of the hanger. The surface preferably covers the forward part of the platform 20, so that free slidling movement of the garment into the gripping jaws is allowed at the rearward part of the platform 20. Also, the friction surface should have sufficient surface area and friction coefficient, so that when the operator pushes downwardly and rearwardly on the garment covered friction surface 21, the platform 20 will move without slipping of the garment.

A recess 22 in the platform is used to secure positioning of hanger into a preferred position on platform 20. The recess 22 is generally shaped so as to accommodate the shape of the hanger being loaded. In addition to giving preferential positioning of hanger 40, pockets 22c in depression 22 are utilized to carry the hanger garment and its open clamp into the closure elements 12. Pockets 22c formed by walls 22a and 22b are deep enough that the lower part of open clamp 43 does not protrude above wall 22a. If the clamp, were to so protrude, sliding of the garment into the clamp would be inhibited. When the platform 20 is moved rearward over base 10, the forward part of the element 41 of the hanger 40 is pressed against by the rearwardly facing push walls 22a or the clamp receiving pockets.

The push walls 22b are positioned to prevent lateral slipping of the hanger 40 so that the hangers

garment securing elements

41 and 42 are generally pushed into closure elements 12 along the center line of the elements 12. The overall width of the hanger receiving recess is such as to prevent lateral displacement of the hanger 4.

In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the hanger hook support 22d is generally rectangular and acts to support hangers with upwardly directed hooks. Hook pocket 22e can be used for hangers which are hingedly mounted and which have not been rotated into their upward configuration. The hanger area is adaptable to fit any hanger configuration. Depression 22 may be molded into holding platform 20 or, as shown in FIG. 2, may be formed by lamination of a precut depression form 22f to platform 20.

The upstanding lugs 23 are used in conjunction with depression 22 to securely position the hanger. The lugs 23 have an inclined surface to guide or cam the hangers accurately into the hanger receiving recess 22 so, rapid loading of the hangers into recess 22 of platform 20 is facilitated. The lugs 23 also act to secure the hanger body 40a in the recess 22 by preventing rearward movement of the hanger 40 out of the depression. Closure elements 12 are permanently attached to the base and immovable with respect to it. As herebefore mentioned, the closure elements 12 are mounted to the base so as to be generally on the center line of hanger attaching securing

elements

41 and 42 when platform 20 moves over base 10. Opening 11 on base 10 serves as a convenient handle for loader 1, allowing easy portage of the loader. The holding platform 20 is biased to a forward or loading position whereby depression 22 is adjacent to, but not directly under closure elements l2. 7 i

In FIGS. 3 and 4, an unloaded hanger 40 is shown placed into recess 22. The single movable jaw 41 of clamp 43 is in the open position. Locking clip 42 lies co-linear with respect to jaw 41 and the movable direction of platform 20, and is slidable toward the open end of the clamp 43. The clip 42 may be metallic or plastic or of any other suitable resilient material. In addition to clips, any clamp locking device may be used which can be pushed into locked position by the loader and which will fixedly secure the clamp 43. Closure element 12 consists of abutment l4 and wiper member 15. Abutment 14 is mounted rigidly on base 10 and is perpendicular to the slidable direction of loading platform 20 with respect to base 10. Any equivalent element which will engage the clamp locking device, i.e., clip 42, may be used instead of abutment 14. Such element could readily be adopted to the particular locking device by one skilled in the art.

Wiper member 15 consists of resilient arm 16 and roller 17 which are mounted in the path of the open clamp jaw as the platform 20 is moved rearwardly. The rollers 17 are preferably made of a non-marring plastic. which will not snag or mar the garment being loaded. Resilient arm 16 allows the loader l to be used with a variety of thicknesses of both garments and hanger clamps. Wiper members of a different construction may be used so long as they perform the same function. The height of wiper member 15, measured perpendicularly from base 10, is less than the closed height ofjaw clamp 41 measured similarly. This assures positive closing of the clamp.

OPERATION The hangers 40 used with the preferred loader l are molded of thermoplastic as one-piece and utilize two clamping members at opposite ends of the l-beam shaped hanger body portion 40a. The clampig members 43 include fixed gripping members 43a which are formed integrally as extensions of the ends of body portion 40a. Gripping jaws 41 are hinged to and molded with the fixed gripping members 43a. The gripping members 43a and gripping jaws 41 are channeled to receive slideable, metallic spring locking members or clips 42. The spring clips 42 are the only element formed separate from the hanger 40 and are slideable downward over the clamping jaws 43 to press the jaws tightly together. The channels 41a and the movable gripping jaws 41 act not only to loosely hold the clip 42 when unsecured, but also to lock the clip 42 over the jaws 43, when the clip 42 is pushed over the jaws 43, when the clip 42 is pushed over the jaws 43. The clamping members 43 are preferably textured on the garment gripping surface so that the garment will be securely held.

At this time, a garment would normally be placed onto platform 20 with a protruding part of the garment, i.e., an edge or cuff positioned generally in the vicinity of the jaw clamp 41 by sliding of the garment on the non-friction surfaced part of platform 20. The edge of the garment is then between the jaws of clamp 41. In FIGS. 5 through 8, a garment is not shown in the configurations of the loading sequence hereinafter described, however, inclusion of a garment in the sequence is easily envisioned.

Before use, the loader l is anchored by extension 13 which is perpendicularly mounted on the edge of base 10 to any table top, counter top, or suitable surface. Extension 13 is padded by a resilient material 13a so that the surface to which the loader is anchored will not be scratched or otherwise marred by the loader. Also, the base 10 may be padded for the same purpose.

As shown in FIG. 9, the platform 20 is mounted on a pair of slides 50. These may be of any suitable construction which will provide a low friction support for the platform and positively prevent its lateral movement. These slides may be of the type conventionally used to support furniture or cabinet drawers. They are equipped with a stop to limit forward movement under the bias or the spring 30. This also is conventional construction for such suspensions used in cabinet drawers. Further description of the slides 50 is not considered necessary.

Operation of the loader is shown progressively in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. As the loading platform 20 is moved rearward over base 10, the members 15 engage hanger jaws 41. As the rollers 17 of the wiper members move over jaws 41, jaws 41 are pivoted into closed position. When the jaws 41 are closed or almost closed, abutment 14 engages locking member 42.

Further movement of platform 20 to its rearward limit as shown in FIGS. 7, and 8, causes abutments 14 to push locking clips 42 over jaws 41, locking jaws 41 in a closed position. Abutment 14 acts also as a stopwall preventing further rearward motion of platform 20 over base 10. Because of tension spring 30, the loading platform 20 is biased to return to its original position. Allowing spring 30 to pull the loading platform to its loading position completes the loading cycle and permits the hanger and garment to be removed preparing loader for another hanger. Normally the spring will return the platform upon release of it by the operator.

It will be seen that the invention reduces the operators functions to the simple steps of placing a hanger in the depression 22, pushing an edge of the garment with the open clamps of the hanger, pushing the platform rearwardly and then releasing the platform. This simplification mostly speeds up the process and assures proper attachment of the hanger to the garment.

The above preferred description of this invention is presented in view of the fact that hangers now being built are all of the two-clamp type. It can be seen that the device with minor modifications within the teachings of this invention could be adapted for use with a hanger having only a single clamp or a plurality of clamps.

In another embodiment of the described loader, the movable top platform 20 could be secured in a fixed position and the base made movable with respect to the platform to produce the same results. The convenience handle 11 placed above the stationary abutments on the now-stationary base 10 could be placed on the lower part of which is now the movable platform 20. Of course, the depression 22 in the platform of the loader could be adapted to any type of hanger which utilizes clamps with a locking member slidable lengthwise of the clamp.

The material used as a high friction surface 21 on the loading platform can be any high friction surface. Among suitable materials for providing such a surface is carpet. Many types of materials are suitable for use in the construction of this loader. Among useful materials are common building materials, i.e., plywood, for base and platform.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials, steps, and arrangements of parts which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and the scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows.

1. A loader for securing hangers to garments, the hangers having a clamp for gripping the garment, the clamp having at least one movable jaw and a locking member slidable toward the open end of said jaw to lock it in closed, garment-securing position, said loader comprising: a closure element; said closure element having jaw-engaging and closing means and locking member engaging and displacement means; said jaw engaging and closing means and said locking member engaging and displacement means being mounted for sequential operation with said jaw-engaging means first forcing said jaw into closed position and said locking member means next sliding said locking member into jaw locking position.

2. A loader for securing hangers to garments, the hangers having a clamp for gripping the garment, the clamp having at least one movable jaw and a locking member slidable toward the open end of said jaw to lock it in closed, garmentsecuring position, said loader comprising: a closure element having a wiper and a pusher offset with respect to each other in the direction of sliding movement of said locking member; said wiper being positioned to pass over said clamp as said clamp passes beneath the same and force said movable jaw into closed position; said pusher being positioned to engage said locking member after said wiper has closed said jaw and slide said locking member into jaw-locking position.

3. The loader of claim 2 wherein the closure element is resilient.

4. A loader for securing hangers to slacks or the like, the hangers having spaced clamps for gripping the garments and each clamp having a locking member slidable lengthwise of the clamp to lock it in closed position, said loader comprising: a support having means for holding a hanger against movement; a closure element for each clamp, each closure element having a wiper member for closing the clamp and abutment means for engaging the locking member; said wiper member and said abutment means being offset lengthwise of said clamp and fixed against movement relative to each other lengthwise of said. offset; said hanger holding means and said closure elements being movable relative to each other lengthwise of said clamps urging said wiper member to first pass over said clamps and close them and then said abutment means to push said locking member lengthwise of said clamps to lock them in closed position.

5. The loader of claim 4 wherein said closure element is secured in a fixed position.

6. The loader of claim 4 wherein said wiper member passes over said clamps, closing them and said abut ment means pushes said locking member lengthwise of said clamps locking them in a single mono-directional movement of said closure elements.

7. The loader of claim 4 wherein the hangers contain only two clamps.

8. The loader of claim 4 wherein the clamp has only one movable jaw.

9. The loader of claim 4 wherein the wiper member is resilient.

10. The loader of claim 4 wherein said hanger holding means comprises a garment-holding platform.

11. The loader of claim 10 wherein said garmentholding platform comprises a high-friction surface.

12. The loader of claim 11 wherein said high-friction surface comprises a carpet-like material.

13. A loader for securing hangers to garments, the hangers having spaced clamps for gripping the garments and each clamp having a locking member slidable lengthwise of the clamp to lock it in a closed position, said loader comprising: a base; a bias-mounted platform which is slidably mounted over said base for fore and aft reciprocal movement; a recess on said platform which acts to secure a hanger; a closure element for each clamp rigidly mounted on said base, each closure element having a wiper member for closing the clamp and abutment means for engaging the locking member; said wiper member and said abutment means being offset lengthwise said clamp and fixed against movement relative to each other lengthwise of said offset; said platform and said base-mounted closure elements being movable relative to each other lengthwise of said clamps urging said wiper member to first pass over said clamps and close them and then said abutment means to push said locking member lengthwise of said clamps to lock them in a closed position.

14. The loader of claim 13 wherein said wiper member comprises a pair of rollers.

15. The loader of claim 13 wherein said wiper member is resilient.

16. The loader of claim 13 wherein said platform comprises a high friction surface, said high friction surface extending generally over the surface of said platform except in the area generally under said closure elements.

17. The loader of claim 16 wherein said area gener ally under said closure elements comprises a lowfriction surface.

18. A portable loader for securing hangers to garments, the hangers having spaced clamps for gripping the garments and each clamp having a locking member slidable lengthwise of the clamp to lock it in a closed position, such loader being easily transported by an operator, said portable loader comprising: a base; a biasmounted platform which is slidably mounted over said base for fore and aft reciprocal movement; a recess on said platform which acts to secure a hanger; a closure element for each clamp rigidly mounted on said base, each closure element having a wiper member for closing the clamp and abutment means for engaging the locking member; said wiper member and said abutment means being offset lengthwise said clamp and fixed against movement relative to each other lengthwise of said offset; said platform and said closure elements being movable relative to each other lengthwise of said clamps urging said wiper member to first pass over said clamps and close them and then said abutment means to push said locking member lengthwise of said clamps to lock them in a closed position.

19. The loader of claim 18 wherein said base comprises a downwardly directed extension, such extension serving as an anchor for the loader when the loader is used on a planar surface.

20. The loader of claim 18 wherein said platform comprises a high friction surface, said high friction sur' face extending generally over the surface of said platform except in the area generally under said closure elements.

21. The loader of claim 18 wherein said base comprises an opening of a generally eliptical size and shape forming a built-in handle for easy portage of said loader.

22. A loader for securing hangers to garments, the hangers having two clamps for gripping the garment, each clamp having at least one movable jaw and a locking clip slidable toward the open end of said jaw to lock it in a closed, garment-securing position, said loader comprising: a base, a bias-mounted platform which is slidably mounted over said base for fore and aft reciprocal movement; a recess placed in the forward part of said platform which acts to secure said garment hanger; said recess comprising clamp pockets, wherein said pockets secure said hanger against lineal and lateral slippage; a closure element for each clamp rigidly mounted on said base, eacli closure element having a wiper member for closing the clamp and abutment means for engaging the locking member; said wiper member and said abutment means being offset lengthwise said clamp and fixed against movement relative to each other lengthwise of said offset; said platform and said base-mounted closure elements being movable relative to each other lengthwise of said clamps urging said wiper member to first pass over said clamps and to close them and then said abutment means to push said locking member lengthwise of said clamps to lock them in a closed position.

23. The portable loader of claim 21 wherein said recess comprises push walls which are generally co-linear to the slidable direction of the movement of said clamps into said closure elements, said push walls engaging said garment clamps and moving said clamps into said closure elements.

24. The portable loader of claim 21 wherein said recess comprises lugs placed forwardly on said recess on said holding platform; said lugs having an inclined surface to guide the hangers accurately into said recess.

25. A portable loader for securing hangers to garments, the hangers having spaced clamps for gripping the garments and each clamp having a locking member slidable lengthwise of the clamp to lock it in a closed position such loader being readily transportable by an operator, said portable loader comprising: a base; an opening within said base which serves as a handle for easy portage of the loader; said base also comprising a downwardly directed extension, such extension serving as an anchor for the loader when the loader is used as a planar surface with an edge; a bias-mounted platform which is slidably mounted over said base for fore and aft reciprocal movement; a recess placed in the forward part of said platform which acts to secure said garment hanger; said recess comprising clamp pockets wherein said pockets secure said hanger against lineal and lat eral slippage; said pockets comprising push walls, which are generally colinear to the slidable direction of the movement of said clamps into said closure elements, said push walls engaging said garment clamps and moving said clamps into said closure elements; a closure element for each clamp rigidly mounted on said base; each closure element having a wiper for closing the clamp and abutment means for engaging the locking member; said wiper member comprising resilient arm-mounted rollers; said rollers and said abutment means being offset lengthwise said clamp and fixed against movement relative to each other lengthwise of said clamps urging said wiper member to first pass over said clamps and close them and then said abutment means to push said locking member lengthwise of said clamps to lock them in a closed position; and said platform comprising a high-friction surface extending generally over the surface of said platform except in the area generally under said closure elements.

Claims

2. A loader for securing hangers to garments, the hangers having a clamp for gripping the garment, the clamp having at least one movable jaw and a locking member slidable toward the open end of said jaw to lock it in closed, garment-securing position, said loader comprising: a closure element having a wiper and a pusher offset with respect to each other in the direction of sliding movement of said locking member; said wiper being positioned to pass over said clamp as said clamp passes beneath the same and force said movable jaw into closed position; said pusher being positioned to engage said locking member after said wiper has closed said jaw and slide said locking member into jaw-locking position.

3. The loader of claim 2 wherein the closure element is resilient.

4. A loader for securing hangers to slacks or the like, the hangers having spaced clamps for gripping the garments and each clamp having a locking member slidable lengthwise of the clamp to lock it in closed position, said loader comprising: a support having means for holding a hanger against movement; a closure element for each clamp, each closure element having a wiper member for closing the clamp and abutment means for engaging the locking member; said wiper member and said abutment means being offset lengthwise of said clamp and fixed against movement relative to each other lengthwise of said offset; said hanger holding means and said closure elements being movable relative to each other lengthwise of said clamps urging said wiper member to first pass over said clamps and close them and then said abutment means to push said locking member lengthwise of said clamps to lock them in closed position.

6. The loader of claim 4 wherein said wiper member passes over said clamps, closing them and said abutment means pushes said locking member lengthwise of said clamps locking them in a single mono-directional movement of said closure elements.

7. The loader of claim 4 wherein the hangers contain only two clamps.

8. The loader of claim 4 wherein the clamp has only one movable jaw.

9. The loader of claim 4 wherein the wiper member is resilient.

11. The loader of claim 10 wherein said garment-holding platform comprises a high-friction surface.

15. The loader of claim 13 wherein said wiper member is resilient.

17. The loader of claim 16 wherein said area generally under said closure elements comprises a low-friction surface.

18. A portable loader for securing hangers to garments, the hangers having spaced clamps for gripping the garments and each clamp having a locking member slidable lengthwise of the clamp to lock it in a closed position, such loader being easily transported by an operator, said portable loader comprising: a base; a bias-mounted platform which is slidably mounted over said base for fore and aft reciprocal movement; a recess on said platform which acts to secure a hanger; a closure element for each clamp rigidly mounted on said base, each closure element having a wiper member for closing the clamp and abutment means for engaging the locking member; said wiper member and said abutment means being offset lengthwise said clamp and fixed against movement relative to each other lengthwise of said offset; said platform and said closure elements being movable relative to each other lengthwise of said clamps urging said wiper member to first pass over said clamps and close them and then said abutment means to push said locking member lengthwise of said clamps to lock them in a closed position.

20. The loader of claim 18 wherein said platform comprises a high friction surface, said high friction surface extending generally over the surface of said platform except in the area generally under said closure elements.

22. A loader for securing hangers to garments, the hangers having two clamps for gripping the garment, each clamp having at least one movable jaw and a locking clip slidable toward the open end of said jaw to lock it in a closed, garment-securing position, said loader comprising: a base, a bias-mounted platform which is slidably mounted over said base for fore and aft reciprocal movement; a recess placed in the forward part of said platform which acts to secure said garment hanger; said recess comprising clamp pockets, wherein said pockets secure said hanger against lineal and lateral slippage; a closure element for each clamp rigidly mounted on said base, each closure element having a wiper member for closing the clamp and abutment means for engaging the locking member; said wiper member and said abutment means being offset lengthwise said clamp and fixed against movement relative to each other lengthwise of said offset; said platform and said base-mounted closure elements being movable relative to each other lengthwise of said clamps urging said wiper member to first pass over said clamps and to close them and then said abutment means to push said locking member lengthwise of said clamps to lock them in a closed position.

25. A portable loader for securing hangers to garments, the hangers having spaced clamps for gripping the garments and each clamp having a locking member slidable lengthwise of the clamp to lock it in a closed position such loader being readily transportable by an operator, said portable loader comprising: a base; an opening within said base which serves as a handle for easy portage of the loader; said base also comprising a downwardly directed extension, such extension serving as an anchor for the loader when the loader is used as a planar surface with an edge; a bias-mounted platform which is slidably mounted over said base for fore and aft reciprocal movement; a recess placed in the forward part of said platform which acts to secure said garment hanger; said recess comprising clamp pockets wherein said pockets secure said hanger against lineal and lateral slippage; said pockets comprising push walls, which are generally colinear to the slidable direction of the movement of said clamps into said closure elements, said push walls engaging said garment clamps and moving said clamps into said closure elements; a closure element for each clamp rigidly mounted on said base; each closure element having a wiper for closing the clamp and abutment means for engaging the locking member; said wiper member comprising resilient arm-mounted rollers; said rollers and said abutment means being offset lengthwise said clamp and fixed against movement relative to each other lengthwise of said clamps urging said wiper member to first pass over said clamps and close them and then said abutment means to push said locking member lengthwise of said clamps to lock them in a closed position; and said platform comprising a high-friction surface extending generally over the surface of said platform except in the area generally under said closure elements.