WO2003013322A1

WO2003013322A1 - Garment hanger

Info

Publication number: WO2003013322A1
Application number: PCT/AU2002/001377
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Yaourtis
Original assignee: Paul Yaourtis
Priority date: 2001-11-12
Filing date: 2002-10-10
Publication date: 2003-02-20
Also published as: AUPR880501A0

Abstract

A garment hanger having at least a first and second arm extending from a central assembly; said garment hanger further including hanger support means extending from said central assembly; said central assembly including pivot means by which said first and second arm can be pivoted between an arm extended position and an arm retracted position; said pivot means further including actuation means by which said arms can be caused to move between said arm extended and arm retracted positions. The hangar includes a locking button which, in a locking position, holds the hanger arms in their extended position.

Description

GARMENT HANGER

The present invention relates to garment hangers and, more particularly to garment hangers the arms of which may be brought into a folded configuration. BACKGROUND

Garment hangers exist in a multitude of shapes and are formed as both rigid and foldable constructions. Generally rigidly constructed garment hangers have the disadvantage of being awkward to use in a number of situations, for example when hanging and removing closed types of garments such as "T" shirts, turtle neck sweaters, skivvies and the like.

Other forms of garment hangers have been developed for special purposes such as for use in hotels and other transient accommodation facilities . Such hangers may take the form of having a closed ring permanently captive on a hanging rail in place of a hook, and means for attaching the hanger arms to the ring. These suffer the same disadvantages as already described with the added disadvantage of being awkward to re-attach to the captive ring in the confines of a dark and crowded hanging space.

It is the purpose of the present invention to ameliorate at least some of the above disadvantages or to offer an alternative. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Accordingly, in one broad form of the invention there is provided a garment hanger having at least a first and second arm extending from a central assembly; said garment hanger further including hanger support means extending from said central assembly; said central assembly including pivot means by which said first and second arm can be pivoted between an arm extended position and an arm retracted position; said pivot means further including actuation means by which said arms can be caused to move between said arm extended and arm retracted positions .

Preferably said actuation means includes a depressible button, which when depressed causes said arms to move from said arm extended to said arm retracted position. Preferably said actuation means includes a central assembly which, when lowered relative to said hanger support means causes said arms to move from said arm retracted position to said arm extended position.

Preferably said actuation means is provided with a spring, tensioned to provide biased urging force to bring said arms into said retracted position.

Preferably said the tension of said spring may be released by the depressing of said button thereby causing the movement of said arms from said arm extended position to said arm retracted position. Preferably said actuation means further includes slideable connections.

Preferably said slideable connections include pivot control posts on inner portions of said arms displaced radially and symmetrically from the centre of rotation of said arms .

Preferably said pivot control posts are captive in slots .

Preferably said slots are symmetrically disposed at such an angle to the vertical axis of said central assembly and are of such length, as to control the displacement of said pivot control posts.

Preferably said pivot control posts move from an inner limiting position in said slots when said arms are in said arm extended position, to an outer limiting position in said slots when said arms are in said arm retracted position.

Preferably said hanger support means comprises a hook.

Preferably said hanger support means comprises a closed ring adapted for threading onto a rod or like support structure.

Preferably said arms have end portions so shaped that when said arms are in said arm retracted position, said arms present a smooth united form which seeks to provide smooth entry into a confined garment neck opening. Preferably said central assembly includes an externally-visible indicia-bearing portion.

Preferably said indicia-bearing portion is adapted to receive and retain indicia related to the promotion of products or services .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a garment hanger according to an embodiment of the invention in a retracted position.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a garment hanger of Figure 1 in an extended position. Figure 3 is an orthogonal front view of the garment hanger of Figure 1.

Figure 3A is a sectional view of a portion of the garment hanger of Figure 1.

Figure 3B is a sectional view of a portion of the garment hanger of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an orthogonal front view of the garment hanger of Figure 2.

Figure 5A is a view of the interior of the central portion of the garment hanger of Figure 1. Figure 5B is a view of the interior of the central portion of the garment hanger of Figure 2. Figure 5C is a perspective view of the central portion of the garment hanger of Figure 5A.

Figure 5D is a perspective view of the central portion of the garment hanger of Figure 5B. Figure 6A is a perspective exploded view of the garment hanger of Figure 2.

Figure 6B is a perspective exploded view of the garment hanger of Figure 1.

Figure 7A is a perspective view of the front of a hook of a garment hanger according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 7B is a rear perspective view of the hook of Figure 7A.

Figure 8A is a perspective view of the inside of a casing forming a part of the garment hanger of Figure 1 and 2.

Figure 8B is a perspective view of the outside of the part of Figure 8A.

Figure 9A is a perspective view of a cover forming a part of the garment hanger of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 10A and 10B are perspective views respectively of a first and second arm forming parts of the garment hanger of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 11 is a pictorial representation of a further embodiment of the invention in its arm extended position and utilizing a closed ring for retention of the hanger on a rod or like support structure.

Figure 12 is a perspective exploded view of a further embodiment of the garment hanger according to the invention with first and second arms in their extended positions.

Figure 13 is a perspective exploded view of the embodiment of Figure 12 with first and second arms in their retracted position.

Figures 14A and 14B are front and rear perspective views respectively of a hook of the garment hanger of Figure 12.

Figures 15A and 15B are front and rear perspective views respectively of a front cover of the garment hanger of Figure 12. Figures 16A and 16B are front and rear perspective views respectively of a rear cover of the garment hanger of Figure 12.

Figure 17A and 17B are front and rear perspective views respectively of a control button of the garment hanger of Figure 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A garment hanger will now be described with reference to the drawings, wherein a garment hanger 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, has a central assembly 20, arms 11 and 12 pivotally supported within the assembly and hook 21 slideably connected to the arms within central assembly 20.

Central assembly 20 includes casing 30 and cover 31.

Both casing and cover are provided with cut away portions 44 and 45 respectively as shown most clearly in Figures 8A to 9B. When the casing and cover are assembled, arms 11 and

12 project through slots 39 formed by the combined cut away portions 44 and 45 of casing 30 and cover 31.

In a first preferred embodiment of the invention garment hanger 10 is provided with an open hook 21 as shown in Figure 1 etc. In a second preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 11, hook 21 is replaced by a closed ring 47 so as to prevent the removal of garment hanger 10 from a garment rail once installed. According to predetermined positions of hook 21 relative to central assembly 20, the arms 11 and 12 are held in a first retracted position as shown in Figure 1 or a second extended position as shown in Figure 2.

Arms 11 and 12 are provided with tapered outer end portions 14 such that when the arms are in the retracted position they form a single smooth tapered body so as to allow unimpeded entry into the confined neck opening of a garment. Arms 11 and 12 are further provided with grooves

13 towards their outer ends such that said grooves provide support for the thin straps of some garments when said arms are in the extended position. With reference to Figures 5A to 5D, central assembly 20 includes a casing 30 provided with a central pivot post 25. The inner portions of arms 11 and 12 pivot about post 25 between the retracted position of Figure 5A and extended position of Figure 5B. The inner portions of arms 11 and 12 are further provided with pivot control posts 42 displaced radially and symmetrically from the central pivot post 25. Pivot control posts 42 are captive in slots 29 of hook 21 with slots 29 symmetrically disposed about the vertical axis of hook 21. Slots 29 are placed at such an angle to the vertical axis and are of such length as to control the displacements of pivot control posts 42 from an outer limiting position in slots 29 when arms 11 and 12 are in a retracted position, and an inner limiting position in the slots when the arms are in an extended position.

With reference to Figures 7A, 7B and 8A, hook 21 is provided with shank 40 having side guiding elements 43 which slide between guide surfaces 35 of casing 30.

It will be seen, for example in Figures 5A and 5B, that when arms 11 and 12 are in the retracted position, hook 21 is also retracted relative to casing 30; and conversely when arms 11 and 12 are in the extended position, hook 21 is also in an extended position relative to casing 30. With reference to Figures 3A and 3B, hook 21 is provided with a detent lever 27 in slot 28 having an end portion push button 32. Lever 27 is so formed as to urge push button 32 outwardly from the plane of hook 21 and hook shank 40. When arms 11 and 12 are in the retracted position, hook 21 is also retracted and push button 32 resides in a restrained position within cover 31. During the transition of arms 11 and 12 from the retracted to the extended position, hook 21 is displaced outwardly relative to central assembly 20. Push button 32 is then drawn along the inside surface of cover 31 until it is level with, and enters into, slot 34 in cover 31. Push button 32 is provided with a chamfered upper edge 37 reduce scraping of the button against the inner surface of cover 31.

Again with reference to Figures 5A and 5B, a tension spring 23 is located between attachment post 24 of casing 30 and attachment lug 41 of hook 21. Spring 23 is biased towards the retraction of hook 21 relative to central assembly 20 such that the extended position of hook 21 and hence the extended position of arms 11 and 12 are only maintained while horizontal face 38 of push button 32 is engaged with the bottom of slot 34 of cover 31.

In use, a garment hanger 10 according to the invention, when in the first retracted position, may be inserted into the neck opening of a garment, either when hook 21 is depended from a garment rail or held in the hand. Pulling down on central assembly 20 will then cause hook 21 to take up its extended position relative to said central assembly. This movement causes urging of arms 11 and 12 into the extended position.

In practice, since the displacement of hook 21 relative to central assembly 20 from its first retracted to its second extended position is relatively short, this displacement can be effected by one hand. By a squeezing action of the heel of the hand against central assembly 20 and of the fingers against the curve of hook 21, assembly and hook can be forced into the required relative displacement .

The removal of a garment from hanger 10 only requires the depressing of push button 32 to allow spring 23 to return the hanger to its retracted position.

With reference to Fig. 11 there is illustrated a perspective view of a garment hanger 110 in accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this instance like components are numbered as for the first embodiment except in the 100 series. So, for example, central assembly 20 becomes central assembly 120 of this second embodiment.

In this instance garment hanger 110 comprises a first arm 111 and a second arm 112 extending symmetrically from central assembly 120. In this instance arms 111, 112 additionally include grooves 113 adapted to releasably retain garment straps and the like. In this instance hanger 110 includes a closed ring 150 extending upwardly from central assembly 120 and utilized for the purpose of providing a means of support for hanger 110 from a rod (not shown) or like structure. This arrangement is particularly advantageous in commercial applications where it is desired that the hanger 110 not be easily removable from its rod or like supporting structure. In this instance the hanger 110 needs to be threaded onto the rod (not shown) thereby to be in effect permanently retained thereon.

Hanger 110 additionally includes an externally visible indicia bearing portion 151 comprising, in this instance, an oval shaped area on at least one face of central assembly 120 as generally illustrated in Fig. 11. The indicia bearing portion 151 is adapted to receive thereon advertising indicia in the form of logos or words for the promotion of goods or services . In alternative instances it can be utilized to provide information such as, for example, information about the garment or garments supported on hanger 110. In a particular form the information could represent the size of the garment hung on hanger 110.

The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. For example, other means can be utilized to provide resilience for the push button 32, such as a spring loaded so as to urge the button 32 to an extended position proud of the central assembly 20. Accordingly, in a further preferred embodiment of the present invention as shown in Figures 12 to 17 in which like features are numbered corresponding to those of the embodiment previously described above, there is provided a garment hanger having a central assembly comprising of casing 30 and cover 31, which, when assembled, slideably supports hook 21 and arms 11 and 12.

As before, arms 11 and 12 pivot about a central pivot post 25 of casing 30 with pivot control posts 42 engaging in slots 29 of hook 21 so as to rotate arms 11 and 12 between their extended and retracted positions as hook 21 slides vertically in the central assembly of casing 30 and cover 31.

In this embodiment, shank 40 of hook 21 is provided with a projecting socket 46 as shown in figure 14A. Socket 46 is provided with slots 47 at two positions on the body of the socket. Button 32 shown in Figures 17A and 17B is adapted to slide in socket 46. Button 32 is provided with flexible lugs 48 so that on assembly as button 32 is inserted into socket 46, lugs 48 come to engage in slots 47. Lugs 48 are so shaped with sloping shoulders 49 as to allow insertion into socket 46 by flexing inwardly and snapping into slots 47, thus making button 32 captive in socket 46.

A compression coil spring 50 (refer to Figure 12) is inserted into socket 46 prior to the assembly of button 32 so that button 32 is urged outwardly from socket 46 to the extent allowed by slots 47. The projection of button 32 from socket 46 is such as to allow button 32 to project through oval slot 34 in cover 31 when these are in alignment. This alignment occurs when hook 21 is raised to its maximum extent in the central assembly of casing 30 and cover 31.

As described above, a tension spring 23 is installed between attachment post 24 of casing 30 and attachment lug 41 of hook 21. Spring 23 is biased to the retraction of hook 21 relative to the central assembly of casing 30 and cover 31. Thus by depressing button 32 sufficient to disengage it from slot 34 in cover 31, hook 21 is retracted causing arms 11 and 12 to rotate into their retracted positions .

Claims

1. A garment hanger having at least a first and second arm extending from a central assembly; said garment hanger further including hanger support means extending from said central assembly; said central assembly including pivot means by which said first and second arm can be pivoted between an arm extended position and an arm retracted position; said pivot means further including actuation means by which said arms can be caused to move between said arm extended and arm retracted positions.

2. The garment hanger of Claim 1 wherein the actuation means includes a depressible button, which when depressed causes said arms to move from said arm extended to said arm retracted position.

3. The garment hanger of Claims 1 and 2 wherein the actuation means includes a central assembly which, when lowered relative to said hanger support means causes said arms to move from said arm retracted position to said arm extended position.

4. The garment hanger of Claims 1 to 3 wherein said actuation means is provided with a spring, tensioned to provide biased urging force to bring said arms into said retracted position.

5. The garment hanger of Claims 2 and 4 wherein the tension of said spring may be released by the depressing of said button thereby causing the movement of said arms from said arm extended position to said arm retracted position.

6. The garment hanger of Claims 1 to 3 wherein said actuation means further includes slideable connections .

7. The garment hanger of Claim 4 wherein said slideable connections include pivot control posts on inner portions of said arms displaced radially and symmetrically from the centre of rotation of said arms .

8. The garment hanger of Claim 7 wherein said pivot control posts are captive in slots.

9. The garment hanger of Claim 8 wherein said slots are symmetrically disposed at such an angle to the vertical axis of said central assembly and are of such length, as to control the displacement of said pivot control posts .

10. The garment hanger of Claims 8 and 9 wherein said pivot control posts move from an inner limiting position in said slots when said arms are in said arm extended position, to an outer limiting position in said slots when said arms are in said arm retracted position.

11. The garment hanger of Claim 1, wherein said hanger support means comprises a hook.

12. The garment hanger of Claim 1, wherein said hanger support means comprises a closed ring adapted for threading onto a rod or like support structure.

13. The garment hanger of Claim 1, wherein said arms have end portions so shaped that when said arms are in said arm retracted position, said arms present a smooth united form which seeks to provide smooth entry into a confined garment neck opening.

14. The garment hanger of Claim 1, wherein said central assembly includes an externally-visible indicia- bearing portion.

15. The garment hanger of Claim 14, wherein indicia- bearing portion is adapted to receive and retain indicia related to the promotion of products or services .

16. A garment hanger, substantially as herein described with reference to the embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings .