WO1996004826A1

WO1996004826A1 - Garment hangers

Info

Publication number: WO1996004826A1
Application number: PCT/GB1995/001874
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nick Lewis
Original assignee: Made To Measure Garment Hanger; Nick Lewis
Priority date: 1994-08-08
Filing date: 1995-08-08
Publication date: 1996-02-22
Also published as: AU3185995A

Abstract

A garment hanger having two extendible arms which can be adjusted to suit the size and shape of the garment to be hung. Each arm comprises a first arch section (3, 4) and, telescopically engaged therewith, a second section (5, 6) held in position by a flat retention portion on the first section. A series of grooves, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the arm, are provided in the inner wall of the first section. A rectangular peg or rib projects outwardly from the surface of the second section, which can be engaged in the grooves in the first section thus locking the arm at the desired length.

Description

GARMENT HANGERS

This invention relates to garment hangers, for example coat hangers. Garment hangers are available in several different shapes and sizes, and are often included in the price of a garment, although garment hangers are also available separately.

Large and small retailers often need to use a wide range of different sized hangers for display purposes, because garments vary widely in size and style. However, the cost of procuring, handling, stocking, and more recently recycling a large number of different sized hangers can be prohibitively high and therefore the choice of hanger used by a retailer is inevitably a compromise. As a result, the display of hanging garments can suffer, as well as the garment itself being damaged, often by bumps and general misshaping occurring along the shoulder ridge.

Similarly, garment hangers sold separately in retail outlets are generally available only in fixed format. Certain hanging garments require better support and care than the fixed hanger can provide. For example leather goods, fine wool and silk garments, and other delicate garments which are prone to misshaping. The customer also has to make a compromise by selecting a nearest fit hanger.

According to the present invention there is provided a garment hanger comprising a central section and, extending in substantially opposite directions from the central section, a pair of arms for supporting a garment, each arm comprising inner and outer telescopically arranged elongate sections, the outer section being generally of U- shaped form in that it comprises side walls joined by a bight, there being locking means for defining a plurality of distinct extension positions of the sections, wherein each extension position is determined by interengaging of features of shape of the inner and outer sections, and the outer section has a retention portion extending from one to the other of its side walls for opposing transverse displacement of the inner section out of the outer section.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the locking means comprise a series of grooves, the series extending in a longitudinal direction along one of the sections and the grooves extending at right angles to the series, and a projection projecting from the other of the sections so that the projection can be engaged and disengaged by exerting a longitudinal pushing or pulling force.

In one such embodiment, the projection projects from an inner surface of the outer section, and the series of grooves are arranged in a longitudinal direction along a corresponding outer surface of the inner section. In such an embodiment, the locking means are hidden from view.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a garment hanger comprising a central section and, extending in substantially opposite directions from the central section, a pair of arms for supporting a garment, each arm comprising inner and outer telescopically arranged elongate sections, the outer section being generally of U-shaped form in that it comprises side walls joined by a bight, there being locking means for defining a plurality of distinct extension positions of the sections, wherein each extension position is determined by interengaging of features of shape of the inner and outer sections and the series of grooves is arranged in a longitudinal direction along an inner surface of the outer section, and the projection projects from a corresponding outer surface of the inner section. In such an embodiment, the locking means are hidden from view.

In order to lock thr first and second sections more firmly together, while retaining ease of extension and contraction, the interengaging means may be asymmetric, for example, one face of a projection may be perpendicular to the length of the section while the opposed face is at an angle other than perpendicular to the length. In this way, if the perpendicular face is that in the direction toward the centre of the hanger and the sloping face is in the direction of the extremity, extension of the hanger is made easier than its contraction, which may still readily be achieved, when intended with the aid of the resilience of the material. If the hanger is dropped, however, the outer section is less likely to be telescoped into the central section.

Alternatively, one part of the interengaging means, e.g., the projection, may be in the form of a movable catch. This may be constructed, for example, by supporting a part of a section of the hanger, conveniently a part of the first section, on a pivot or hinge, so that a projection is movable out of or into engagement with grooves on the other section.

This may conveniently be effected by, for example, mounting the movable part with the pivot or hinge approximately central, the projection being on an interior surface and remote from the pivot so that by pressing the exterior surface of the part on the other side of the pivot from the projection the latter is pivoted out of engagement with a groove, while releasing the exterior surface allows the resilience of the material to return the projection into engagement.

The hinge may be formed integrally in the section, e.g. in the retention portion, by cutting out, or by omitting, all but two small opposed portions of the material surrounding the movable part, and the ease of moving the part may be controlled by the width or thickness of the retained opposed portions. The height and shape of the projection and the grooves may similarly or alternatively be selected to control the firmness of engagement.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the retention portion is a plate extending substantially the length of the outer section.

In embodiments of the present invention, the inner section may have a lip, which will engage with the retention plate to oppose separation of the inner section from the outer section.

Alternatively, the inner section may have a member traversing between its side walls and the retention plate has a lip, which will engage with the member of the inner section to oppose separation of the inner section from the outer section.

Embodiments may also include an outer section having edge portions shaped to receive the edges of the inner section for opposing relative transverse displacement of the sections. These edge sections may extend substantially the length of the section.

The outer section may be of a resilient material which allows fractional sideways movement of the side walls of both of those sections, in order to allow the locking mechanism to operate.

The inner and outer sections may be substantially arch-shaped. In such an embodiment the arch-shaped sections may have a larger width than height, larger height then width, or substantially equal height and width. Also, in such an embodiment, the first and second sections may have adjacent bights.

Factors to bear in mind are the simplicity of moulding and the minimising of the number of parts. For example, one embodiment needs only three moulded parts and these are arranged such that the lengths of the arms can be altered independently of one another. One can also arrange by such a construction that the arms extend outwardly and downwardly from the central section. Embodiments of the present invention may further comprise a support arm fixed at its end regions to the sections of respective arms which are integral with the central section, which support arm is shaped to provide surfaces for supporting garments. In such embodiments, the support arm may also have cranked end regions defining surfaces for supporting garments.

If desired, there may project downwardly from a lower surface of the first, central, section, preferably at its extremities and conveniently from the retention portions, arms which carry a support rail, e.g. for trousers. The arms may project out of the general vertical plane of the hanger, and also slope toward the extremity of the closer outer arm. This orientation may facilitate manufacture of the support rail as an intergral part of the first section.

In embodiments of the present invention, the outer section may have a free end region of material which tapers towards that end to tend to merge with the inner section. In an embodiment of the present invention, either the outer section, or the inner section is integral with the central section.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a side view of a garment hanger embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view taken on the line II-II in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional side view of a first arm section of the hanger of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows a side view of a second arm section of the hanger of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 shows a side view of a second embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention including edge retaining portions;

Fig. 7 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 8 shows a cross-sectional view taken on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 shows aside view of a further embodiment of a hanger according to the invention with a modified trouser rail support.

Figs. 10 and 11 show side and plan views respectively of a further embodiment of the invention in which an outer arm section has a modified shape of projection:

Figs. 12 and 13 show plan and side views respectively of part of a further embodiment of which a first, central, arm section has a modified retention portion, while Fig. 14 shows a longitudinal section of a modified second arm section of the embodiment of Figs. 12 and 13, and Fig. 15 shows a cross section through an arm of the hanger showing the interengagement of the modified retention portion of Figs. 12 and 13 with the second arm section of Fig. 14.

Figure 1 shows a garment hanger embodying the present invention, which is generally of standard hanger shape i.e. it comprises a central section 1 , having a hook 2, and two arms. The arms comprise outer sections 3 and 4, integral with the central section 1, and inner sections 5 and 6 telescopically slidable in the sections 3 and 4. The arms extend outwardly and downwardly from the central section 1 at an angle of 25 to 35 degrees. As shown in Figure 1, the garment hanger may be provided with a trouser support arm 11 which is fixed at its ends to the first sections 3 and 4 of the respective arms. This support arm is provided with cranked side portions defining surfaces 14 and 15 for supporting dress straps or the like.

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view, taken on the line II-II of Figure 1. As is apparent from Figure 2, each of the sections 3, 4 or 5, 6 is of arched or U form, with the inner section telescopically arranged inside the outer section so that the length of each arm can be altered by pushing or pulling the sections relative to one another.

Figures 3 and 4 show respective cross- sectional side views of one of the outer sections and one of the inner sections used in the embodiment of Fig. 1. As seen from Figure 3, the inner section in each case is retained in the outer by means of a retention portion in the form of a retention portion 7 which ensures that the inner section remains in position when a downward force is exerted upon it. The retention portion also gives lateral strength to the outer section to assist in maintaining a required frictional engagement between the sections. The retention plate 7 may extend the length of the section, thereby further improving the lateral strength of the section.

As shown in Figure 4, one end of each inner section has a lip 8 which will engage with the retention portion on the outer section in order to prevent the two sections from readily separating completely. Alternatively, there may be a lip 12 on the retention portion to engage an end plate 13 of the inner section for the same purpose.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the sections are designed so that their side walls frictionally engage. Moreover, there are locking means in the form of interengaging features of shape which define a plurality, e.g. 5 or 6, distinct relative positions of the sections. In this example, these features of shape are an integral rectangular rib 9 projecting from the inner section and a series of correspondingly shaped recesses 10 in an inner side wall of the outer section, these recesses and the rib extending transverse to the longitudinal axes of the arms. Alternatively the rib 9 may project from the inner surface of the outer section, and the grooves arranged along the outer surface of the inner section.

As shown in Figure 3, each outer section 3 and 4 has a free end which has a projection 14 having a tapering thickness of material, in order to achieve, as far as possible, merging with the associated inner section 5 or 6.

In use, the length of the arms may be adjusted by exerting a longitudinal force pulling or pushing the inner section so that its rib is located in any desired recess or groove 10 in the inner wall of the first section. The inner section is thus locked into a recess of the outer section - this locking effect enables the arm to stay in position until further adjustment is required.

A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 5. This embodiment also is generally of a standard hanger shape, having a central section 1*, a hook 2' and two arms. In this embodiment, the arms comprise inner sections 3' and 4', integral with the central section 1', and outer sections 5' and 6' telescopically slidable over the sections 3' and 4' . The arms extend outwardly and downwardly from the central section at an angle of 25° to 35°.

The difference between the first and second embodiments is that the sections which are integral with the central section form the outer sections in the first embodiment and the inner sections in the second embodiment. The operation of both embodiments is virtually identical, and so a detailed description of the operation of the second embodiment is omitted here.

The arched shape of the inner and outer sections and properties of the material used, especially its resilience, enables a fractional sideways movement, or bowing, of the side walls of both the said sections to allow the locking mechanism to operate and to release. The embodiments shown in Figs. 1 and 5 have the added advantage that the locking means for defining the distinct relative positions is hidden from the view of the user, because the grooves are on the inwardly facing surfaces of the outer section and the projection is on the outer surface of the inner section. Thus both the grooves and the projection are concealed. Fig. 6 shows a modification which can be applied to either of the above embodiments. In this case, the outer sections may also include edge portions 20, which are generally U-shaped so as to receive the edges of the inner section and thus oppose relative transverse displacement of the sections. These shaped edge portions may extend substantially the length of the outer section.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Fig. 7 shows a garment hanger generally of a standard hanger shape, i.e. it comprises a central section 30, a hook 31, and two arms. The arms comprise telescopically arranged sections 32 and 33 and sections 34 and 35. These sections are arranged as shown in the cross-sectional diagram of Fig. 8. The inner sections 32 and 34 are prevented from being readily separated from the outer sections by means of two retaining portions 36. These retaining portions could be replaced by a single portion extending the over a longer part of the arm. This alternative embodiment also includes the locking means described with reference to the first and second embodiments.

Referring now to Fig. 9, there is shown a further garment hanger constructed in accordance with the invention. This differs from the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4 in that, instead of the upper edge of the central section having a projection 14, it is cut away at 37. Fig. 9 also illustrates an embodiment in which the arms 38 and 45 that support the trouser rail 11 are sinusoidally curved both in and transverse to the vertical plane of the hanger, and the ends of the rail 11 are curved upward to provide hooks 39 to support a skirt. The embodiment illustrated by Fig. 9 has advantages in manufacture, the cutting away of the end 37 of the central section facilitating short cycle time in moulding, as does the shaping of the arms 38, 45 supporting the trouser rail 11, if the rail is intergral.

Alternatively, the arms 38, 45, may be a snap fit in an aperture in the retention plate. It will be appreciated that the cut away feature 37 and the shape of the arms 38 and 45 are independent.

Referring now to Figs. 10 and 11, illustrating a movable section for engagement with a fixed section as described with reference to

Fig. 3, a rib 45 (corresponding to the rectangular rib 9 of Figs. 2 and 4) in the outer wall of the movable sections 5 and 6 is of triangular cross section, with a first face 51 perpendicular to the length of the section, and a second face 52 sloping between the free edge edge of the first face 51 and the wall of the section. The sloping face is toward the free end of the sections 5 and 6, facilitating extension of the hanger, while the perpendicular face resists accidental displacement from the groove 10 (see Fig 3)

Referring now to Figs. 12 to 14, there is shown a part of a central section 4 having a modified retention portion 7 having, as seen most clearly in Fig. 13, a catch portion 42 retained in an aperture 51 in the retention portion 7 by a pivot or hinge means 43. On the interior surface of the hinge means 43 a pyramidal projection 41 is formed, at a point remote from the hinge and in line with grooves 40 formed in an edge of a movable section 5. The exterior surface of the catch portion 42 extends below that of the remainder of the portion 7, and is shaped to provide a wedge shaped portion on the one end 44, the thin end of the wedge meeting at the hinge 43. Pressure on the wedge remote from the projection 41 will cause the catch to pivot about the means 43, bringing the projection 41 out of engagement with one of the grooves 40, allowing relative movement of the sections 4 and 5. The resilience of the material of the hinge means will allow re-engagement in one of the grooves 40 when pressure is released. The continuos series of grooves 40 permits a precise adjustment of the length of the hanger.

If desired, in any of the embodiments described with reference to all of Figs. 1 to 14, the retention portions may extend the length of both arms of the first section so they meet centrally.

On thinner hangers, in the embodiment described with reference to Figs. 12 to 14, the catch may extend the full width of the retention portion, the outer arms may have grooves extending along both edges, and two projections, one on each side, be provided on the latch.

Claims

1. A garment hanger comprising a central section and, extending in substantially opposite directions from the central section, a pair of arms for supporting a garment, each arm comprising inner and outer telescopically arranged elongate sections, the outer section being generally of U- shaped form in that it comprises side walls joined by a bight, there being locking means for defining a plurality of distinct extension positions of the sections, wherein each extension position is determined by interengaging of features of shape of the inner and outer sections, and the outer section has a retention portion extending from one to the other of its side walls for opposing transverse displacement of the inner section out of the outer section.

2. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking means for defining a plurality of extension positions comprise a series of grooves, the series extending in a longitudinal direction along one of the sections and the grooves extending at right angles to the series, and a projection projecting from the other of the sections so that the projection can be engaged and disengaged by exerting a longitudinal pushing or pulling force.

3. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the projection is elongate and extends in a direction transverse to the arm.

4. A garment hanger as claimed in claims 2 or 3, wherein the projection projects from an inner surface of the outer section, and the series of grooves are arranged in a longitudinal direction along a corresponding outer surface of the inner section, and where the locking means is hidden from view.

5. A garment hanger comprising a central section and, extending, in substantially opposite directions from the central section, a pair of arms for supporting a garment, each arm comprising inner and outer telescopically arranged elongate sections, the outer section being generally of U- shaped form in that it comprises side walls joined by a bight, there being locking means for defining, a plurality of distinct extension positions of the sections, wherein each extension position is determined by interengaging of features of shape of the inner and outer sections and the series of grooves is arranged in a longitudinal direction along an inner surface of the outer section, and the projection projects from a corresponding outer surface of the inner section.

6. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 5, wherein the locking means is hidden from view.

7. A garment hanger as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retention portion extends substantially the length of the outer section to meet centrally with the other retention portion, if also extended substantially.

8. A garment hanger as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner section has a lip, which will engage with the retention portion to oppose separation of the inner section from the outer section.

9. A garment hanger as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner section is solid.

10. A garment hanger as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner section is U-shaped.

11. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 10, wherein the inner section has a member traversing between its side walls and the retention portion has a lip, which will engage with the member of the inner section to oppose separation of the inner section from the outer section.

12. A garment hanger as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer section includes edge portions shaped to receive the edges of the inner section for opposing relative transverse displacement of the sections.

13. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 10, wherein said edge portions extend substantially the length of the outer section.

14. A garment hanger as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer sections is of a resilient material which allows fractional sideways movement of the side walls of both of those sections to allow the locking means to operate.

15. A garment hanger as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner and outer sections are arch-shaped.

16. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 15, wherein the arch-shaped sections have substantially equal width and height.

17. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 15, wherein the arch-shaped sections have a larger width than height.

18. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 15, wherein the arch-shaped sections have a larger height than width.

19. A garment hanger as claimed in one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the inner and outer sections have adjacent bights.

20. A garment hanger as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer section has a free end region of material which tapers towards that end to tend to merge with the inner section.

21. A garment hanger as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer section is integral with the central section.

22. A garment hanger as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the inner section is integral with the central section.

23. A garment hanger as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lengths of the arms can be altered independently of one another.

24. A garment hanger as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the arms extend outwardly and downwardly from the central section.

25. A garment hanger as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a support arm fixed at its end regions to the first sections of respective arms, which support arm is shaped to provide surfaces for supporting garments.

26. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 25, wherein the support arm has cranked end regions defining surfaces for supporting garments.

27. A garment hanger as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein the sections, or part of, are of a non-slip material which serves to prevent unwanted movement of garments supported by the hanger, when in use.

28. A garment hanger substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

29. A garment hanger as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, or any of the preceding claims wherein the locking means is asymmetric, whereby extension of the telescopically arranged sections is easier than contraction.

30. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 5, or any one of the preceding claims, wherein the projection is in the form of a catch.

31. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 30, or any of the preceding claims, wherein the projection is on an interior surface of a pivotally mounted part of one section of the hanger, whereby the projection may be moved into or out of engagement with grooves on another section.

32. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 30 or 31, or any of the preceding claims, wherein the part of the section is mounted with the pivot intermediate the ends of the part, whereby pressure on the exterior surface of the part on the opposite side of the pivot to the projection pivots the latter out of engagement with a groove.

33. A garment hanger as claimed in any one of claims 29 to 32, or in any of the preceding claims wherein at least part of the exterior surface of the part protrudes from the surrounding exterior surface of the section.

34. A garment hanger as claimed in any one of claims 29 to 31, or in any of the preceding claims, wherein the material of the pivot is resilient, whereby release of pressure on the said exterior surface permits the return of the projection into engagement.

35. A garment hanger as claimed in any one of claims 29 to 33, or any preceding claim wherein the grooves and the projection are triangular.

36. A garment hanger as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the trouser rail is angled forward and outward from where it joins to the retention portions so that the main section and trouser rail can be moulded as one or alternatively is attached to the retention portions by way of a snap fit so that the hanger can be provided with or without the said trouser rail.