WO1998018371A2

WO1998018371A2 - Foldable shirt hanger

Info

Publication number: WO1998018371A2
Application number: PCT/IL1997/000344
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Hecht; Daniel Schleider; Yishai Meshorer
Original assignee: Super Kolav Ltd.; Sasson, Shaul
Priority date: 1996-10-30
Filing date: 1997-10-29
Publication date: 1998-05-07
Also published as: AU4721197A; IL119517A0; WO1998018371A3

Abstract

The foldable shirt hanger for use in folding a shirt, including a generally planar member (18), and a pair of wing elements (14), the wing element hingedly L(52) secured to the generally planar member, the wing elements foldable from a first position, in which the wing elements are substantially in the same plane as the generally planar member, to a second position, in which the wing elements are secured against the generally planar member.

Description

FOLDABLE SHIRT HANGER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates, generally, to foldable hangers and, more particularly, to a foldable shirt hanger.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known in the art to provide a foldable form, which is useful when packing clothing to be placed in a drawer or in a suitcase. However, such forms, generally made of cardboard, are usually damaged after their initial use such that they are not reusable, due to their flimsy construction. While suitable for certain uses, they are limited in that they are not reusable. There is thus the need for a reusable, foldable form suitable for packing clothing.

U.S. Patent No. 4,669,642 discloses a foldable plastic shirt hanger including a generally planar frame having top and bottom portions which may be inserted into a shirt to be folded. The bottom portion is foldable to the rear upon the top portion, and the top portion is provided with side wings which may be inserted into the sleeves of a shirt. The device is also provided with a collar element which is secured to a stem element located at the uppermost portion of the top, generally planar portion, the collar element intended to support the shirt collar. There is further provided a hook element, which may be removably screwed into the stem element, for suspending the hanger from a support, or which may be unscrewed from the stem element, for packing the shirt in a suitcase.

This device is disadvantageous in that it includes three separate pieces (generally planar frame, hook element, and collar element) which must be properly attached and adjusted, when the device is to be used. Also, the top and bottom portions of the generally planar frame must be secured in the proper positions relative to each other, before the device is inserted into a shirt to be folded. Further, while the device may enable a shirt to be folded thereon, there is no means by which the shirt is secured so that it does not unfold, such as when it is suspended in a generally vertical position. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to provide a foldable shirt hanger that is characterized by enabling the folding of a shirt thereon such that the shirt is properly gripped and retained in its folded position, whether the folded shirt is supported horizontally, as on a shelf or in a suitcase, or whether it is suspended in a vertical position, as when hanging in a closet.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a foldable shirt hanger for use in folding a shirt, including a generally planar member; and a pair of wing elements, the wing elements hingedly secured to the generally planar member, the wing elements foldable from a first position, in which the wing elements are substantially in the same plane as the generally planar member, to a second position, in which the wing elements are secured against the generally planar member.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the height of the generally planar member is less than half the height of a shirt to be hung thereon, such that when a shirt is folded thereon, a portion of the shirt can be folded generally upwards about a bottom edge of the generally planar member such that the shirt tails extend beyond a top edge of the generally planar member of the hanger, and wherein the shirt tails may be inserted between the folded wing elements and the rear of the generally planar member when the wing elements are in the second position so as to be lockably retained thereby until the wing elements are extended into the first position.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, the foldable shirt hanger includes a generally planar member manufactured of a plastic material, the hanger further including a hook element extending from the generally planar member.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, the foldable shirt hanger further includes a hook element secured to the generally planar member, the hook element movable from a first position, in which the hook element extends away from the generally planar member, whereby the hanger may be hung from a support, to a second position, in which the hook element is disposed flat against the generally planar member. The generally planar member may be provided with a reinforced portion, the hook element secured to the reinforced portion. The hook element may be manufactured of a metal material.

Furthermore, there is provided a method of folding a shirt, the method including the steps of: providing a hanger having wing portions which are foldable relative to a generally planar member; inserting the hanger into a shirt to be folded; closing the shirt; folding the wing portions back against the generally planar member, such that the sides of the shirt are folded against the back of the shirt and are held in such a position by the wing portions; folding the bottom half of the shirt towards the back of the shirt and against the top half of the shirt; and inserting the lowermost portion of the shirt between the back and the sides of the shirt, whereby the lowermost portion of the shirt is secured between the wing portions and the generally planar member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood and its features and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the ensuing description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hanger according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 , with the wing portions folded in a locking position;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the hanger as seen in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4A is a detailed cross-section of a hinge portion, taken along line 4A-4A in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 4B is a detailed cross-section of the hinge portion as seen in Fig. 4A, but in a closed position, taken along line 4B-4B in Fig. 3; and

Figs. 5-10 illustrate the packing of a shirt, according to the method of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to Fig. 1 , there is shown a shirt hanger 10 constructed according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The shirt hanger 10 is preferably made of lightweight plastic material, although any suitable material may be used. Shirt hanger 10 includes a generally rectangular planar body member 12, which is preferably about half the height of a shirt. This configuration of the body member 12 facilitates folding of a shirt thereon and its retention in a folded position, until such time as it is desired to unfold the shirt, as discussed below with reference to Figs. 5-10. The body member 12 may include cutout portions 13 of any shape which are desirable as they enable manufacture of the hanger using less material, and as they allow the hanger 10 to be more lightweight. While the generally rectangular body member 12 of this embodiment of the present invention is shown as a frame having cutout portions 13, it should be understood that such cutout portions may be omitted, without deviating from the scope of the present invention.

Body member 12 is provided with a pair of wing portions, referenced 14a and 14b, which are attached to body member 12 by means of respective locking hinges 16a and 16b. Hinges 16a and 16b enable wing portions 14a and 14b to fold from a first position, in which they lie substantially in the same plane as the body member 12, to a second, locking position, in which the wing portions 14a and 14b are folded flat against body member 12, as seen in Figs. 2-3. The hinges 16a and 16b are formed such that wing portions 14 may be folded by a person using the hanger, relatively easily. However, the hinges are formed such that their associated wing portions are retained in the folded position and thus lock any shirt portion between the wing portions and planar member, until they are unfolded by the user.

The construction of hinges 16a and 16b is now described with reference to Figs. 4A and 4B, in which exemplary hinge 16b is shown in cross-section, in open and closed positions, respectively. It will be appreciated that, while a single hinge 16b only is shown and described in detail in Figs. 4A and 4B, hinges 16a and 16b are identical with regard to their construction and operation. It is thus seen that the portion of body member 12 shown in Figs. 4a and 4b is formed with a generally upright rod portion 50 which has an elliptical cross-section, and that wing portion 14b is formed with open hook portions 52, having elliptical interior surfaces, configured so as to fit onto rod portion 50. As seen in Figs. 1-3, each wing portion 14a and 14b typically has three hook portions 52, although any other number of these hook portions may be used, as desired.

It will be appreciated that, due to the fact that rod portion 50 and hook portion 52 are elliptical, and have similar external and internal dimensions, respectively, the only two 'at rest' positions, i.e., in which the hinge material is not being mechanically stressed, are in the open position seen in Figs. 1 and 4A, and the closed position seen in Figs. 2 and 4B. The rod portion 50 and hook portions 52 are formed from any suitable plastic which is sufficiently elastic so as to permit rotation of wing portions 14a and 14b and hook portion 52 about rod portion 50 in the presence of a turning force of a sufficient magnitude, but such that, in the absence of such a turning force, wing portions 14a and 14b are retained in either their open or closed orientations.

Body member 12 is provided with a hook 20, which may be used to hang the hanger 10 from a support, as seen at reference number 22 in Fig. 9. The hook 20 is preferably secured to a thickened or reinforced portion 18 of body member 12. Hook 20 is foldable from a first position, in which the hook 20 extends away from the body member 12, to a second position (shown in phantom in Fig. 1), in which the hook lies flat against the reinforced portion 18. Hook 20 is preferably made of metal, as is known in the art. Alternatively, the hook may be a plastic extension of body member 12.

While the present invention is shown in the drawings as including a hook, it should be understood that, alternatively, the hook need not be provided in conjunction with the generally planar body member. This may be, for example, when it is not necessary to hang up the shirt, but when it is merely desired to fold a shirt for storage in a drawer, on a shelf, or the like.

With further reference to Figs. 5-10, the method of the present invention facilitates the folding and packing of a shirt into a suitcase, as will be described hereinbelow. First, hanger 10 having wing portions 14a and 14b extended laterally is inserted into a shirt 30, and the shirt is closed, as shown in Fig. 5. Referring to Figs. 6-7, wing portions 14a and 14b are folded toward the back side of the body member 12, while at the same time folding therewith the right side 32 and left side 34 of shirt 30 flat against the back 36 of the shirt 30. Right side 32 and left side 34 of shirt 30 are thus locked in position against back 36 of the shirt by wing portions 14a and 14b. Next, as shown in Fig. 8, the bottom half 38 of the shirt 30 is folded back against the top half 40 of the shirt 30. The lowermost portion 42 of shirt 30 may then be inserted between the back 36 and the sides 32 and 34 of the shirt 30. Due to the stiffness of the hinges 16a and 16b, folded wing portions 14a and 14b secure portion 42 of the shirt 30 in position against the back 36 of the shirt 30. The shirt may thus be conveniently hung compactly, as shown in Fig. 9, or the hook 20 may be folded down such that the shirt may be packed in a suitcase, as shown in Fig. 10.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not to be limited by the drawings and description hereinabove presented. Rather, the invention is defined solely by the claims which follow.

Claims

1. A foldable shirt hanger for use in folding a shirt, comprising: a generally planar body member; and a pair of wing elements, secured to said generally planar member, said wing elements being foldable from a first position, in which said wing elements are substantially in the same plane as said generally planar member, to a second position, in which said wing elements are secured against said generally planar member, wherein said body member and said wing elements having formed therebetween hinge portions; whereby, when said hanger is inserted into a shirt to be folded, said wing elements may be folded from said first position, wherein said wing elements are inside the shoulders of the shirt, to said second position, wherein the right and left sides of the shirt are folded against the back of the shirt, said wing portions being operative to secure the right and left sides of the shirt against the back of the shirt.

2. The foldable shirt hanger according to claim 1 , wherein the height of said body member is less than half the height of a shirt to be hung thereon, such that when a shirt is folded thereon, a body portion of the shirt can be folded generally upwards about a bottom edge of said body member such that the shirt tails extend beyond a top edge of said main body member of said hanger, and wherein the shirt tails may be inserted between said folded wing elements and the rear of said body member when said wing elements are in said second position so as to be lockably retained thereby until said wing elements are extended into said first position.

3. The foldable shirt hanger according to claim 1 , said generally planar member manufactured of a plastic material, said hanger further comprising a hook element extending from said generally planar member.

4. The foldable shirt hanger according to claim 1 , further comprising: a hook element secured to said generally planar member, said hook element movable from a first position, in which said hook element extends away from said generally planar member, whereby said hanger may be hung from a support, to a second position, in which said hook element is disposed flat against said generally planar member.

5. The foldable shirt hanger according to Claim 4, wherein said generally planar member is provided with a reinforced portion, said hook element secured to said reinforced portion.

6. The foldable shirt hanger according to either of claims 4 or 5, wherein said hook element is manufactured of a metal material.

7. A method of folding a shirt, said method comprising the steps of: providing a hanger having wing portions which are foldable relative to a generally planar member; inserting said hanger into a shirt to be folded; closing the shirt; folding said wing portions back against said generally planar member, such that the sides of the shirt are folded against the back of the shirt and are held in such a position by said wing portions; folding the bottom half of the shirt towards the back of the shirt and against the top half of the shirt; and inserting the lowermost portion of the shirt between the back and the sides of the shirt, whereby the lowermost portion of the shirt is secured between the wing portions and the generally planar member.

8. The method according to claim 7, said generally planar member including a hook foldable onto said generally planar member, said method further comprising the step of folding said hook flat, onto said generally planar member .