WO1986006600A1

WO1986006600A1 - Extendible garment hanger

Info

Publication number: WO1986006600A1
Application number: PCT/AU1985/000103
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Kodet
Original assignee: John Kodet
Priority date: 1985-05-10
Filing date: 1985-05-10
Publication date: 1986-11-20
Also published as: GB8700298D0; EP0221050A1; GB2187382A

Abstract

A garment hanger comprising laterally extending arms (3) which are adjustable through a range of positions to vary the length thereof and adapt to the size of the garment displayed thereon. The adjustable arms comprising laterally extending ribs (3A) and a slide member (5) which is movable to extend or reduce the effective length of the arms.

Description

This invention relates to garment hangers such as those commonly comprising a central hook which engages a rung of a clothing rack an d extends up from the junction of two lateral arms adapted for insertion through the shoulders of a garment.

One disadvantage with such hangers is that the length of the arms is fixed. Thus while a range of sizes and styles of clothing, may nevertheless be displayed on the hanger their appearance is often compromised bythese arms either inade¬ quately supporting the shoulder portions of the larger gar¬ ments or in the case of smaller sizes of apparel, stretching and/or distorting the neck region.

It is therefore an object of this invention to ameliorate the aforementioned problems and accordingly this invention in one broad form discloses a garment hanger comprising one or more laterally extending arms which are adjustable through a range of positions to vary the length thereof and adapt to_^ the size of the garment displayed thereon.

One preferred embodiment of this invention will now be des¬ cribed with reference to the attached figures 1 to 3 which show respectively a side view of one form of garment hanger according to this invention, an underside view of the adjust- able arm assembly, and a further cross-sectional view of the arm assembly.

The hanger comprises a central body portion 1 and an upwardly extending hook 2 to engage the rung of a clothing rack or the like (not shown). Each of the arm assemblies are designated generally as 3 and comprise a laterally extending rib 3A integral with the body portion 1 and a slide member 5 which is movable in the direction shown by arrows 5A so as to extend or reduce the effective length of the arm in accordance with the size or style of the garment to be displayed.

Preferably the garment hanger also includes provision for releasably securing the slide member 5 in any one of a number of selected positions. With this embodiment there are five such positions which are located by a series of paired notches 6 along the lower flange 6A of the rib 3. These notches engage with a pair of fingers 7 on the slide member 5 to retain it in the required location. The sides of the notches however preferably sloped or inclined so that the application of a moderate force will nevertheless serve to spread apart the fingers 7 and allow the arms to be extended or retracted as required. Although not shown on the drawings, appropriate notations may be applied to the side of the rib 3A adjacent each of the notches to facilitate the speedy adjustment of the arm length according to garment size.

The slide member 5 is shown in cross-section in figure 3. The upper portion of this member defines an interior key-way 9 which extends along a substantial portion of the length thereof. This key-way is dimensioned to enable a close sliding fit with the upper flange 10 of the rib 3A so as to maintain the align¬ ment of the slide member on the hanger and also provide a measure of support when it is in the fully extended position. The fingers 7 may curve inwardly as shown so that the lower edges 7A "snap fit" into the appropriate pair of notches at a selected position. With this particular cross-sectional configuration the relatively thin upper walls of this member also facilitate the outward deflection of these edges 7A as required for adjustment of the hanger, without undue strain being placed on fingers 7. The upper surface 10 of the slide member is smoothly curved to avoid any creasing of the dis¬ played garment and the end portion 11 is similarly contoured to facilitate its insertion into the shoulder of a garment without abrading or piercing the fabric.

In order to enhance the strength of thr hanger the upper and lower flanges 6A and 10 preferably extend substantially around the periphery of the body portion and hook 2. This construction enables the central web 12 of the hanger to be relatively thin with consequent reduction in weight and material cost.

Although not shown in the drawings the exterior of the slide member 5 may be roughened or textured to provide a non-slip exte ior surface 10 better adapted to hold and support the garment material.

It is also envisaged that alternative embodiments of the invention could include additional hook means on the ends of the slide members and/or a transverse bar disposed below the central web of the hanger to support a pair of trousers or other secondary garments.

Further garment hangers according to this concept may be specifically contoured to display overcoats by, for example, curving the slide members as depicted by the broken lines " IIAA II in Figure 2.

It will thus be appreciated that this invention at least in the form of the embodiment described provides a novel and unique improvement in garment hangers. Clearly however the particular example described is only one presently preferred form of this invention and a wide variety of modifications may which would be apparent to a man skilled in the art. For example while the hanger is preferably of moulded plastic, other suitable materials such as wood or metal may also be used. Further, the particular shape and configuration of the hanger including the extendible arm assemblies may be modified according to application and/or design preference.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A garment hanger comprising one or more laterally extending arms which are adjustable through a range of positions to vary the length thereof and adapt to the size of the garment dis¬ played thereon.

2. The garment hanger as claimed in claim 1 wherein the adjust¬ able arms comprise laterally extending ribs and a slide member which is movable to extend or reduce the effective length thereof.

3. The garment hanger as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein means are provided for releasibly securing the adjustable arms in any one of a range of selected positions.

4. The garment hanger as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means for securing the adjustable arms comprise a series of paired notches along said ribs which are adapted to engage 'a pair of fingers on the slide member.

5. The garment hanger as claimed in claim 4 wherein the sides of the notches are sloped or inclined to facilitate the adjust¬ ment of the arms through said range of selected positions.

»

6. The garment hanger as claimed in claim 4 or 5 wherein the paired notches are disposed in a flange formed along the lower edge of the laterally extending ribs.

7. The garment hanger as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein the slide member includes an interior key-way which is dimensioned to enable a close sliding fit with an upper flange of the laterally extending ribs so as to maintain the alignment of the slide member and provide a measure of support when the arms are in their fully extended position.

8. The garment hanger as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein the pairs of fingers on the slide member are curved inwardly so that they snap fit into the appropriate pair of notches at a selected position.

9. The garment hanger as claimed in claim 7 or 8 wherein the upper or lower flanges extend substantially around the periphery of the body portion and hook.

10. a garment hanger substantially as described herein with reference to the attached drawings.