U.S. patent application number 11/368873 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-07 for clothes hangers.
Invention is credited to William D. Garnet, Jacquelynn R. Lueth.
Application Number | 20060196898 11/368873 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36943162 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060196898 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lueth; Jacquelynn R. ; et
al. |
September 7, 2006 |
Clothes hangers
Abstract
A clothes hanger comprises a garment support surface that is
substantially greater in diameter as compared with conventional
clothes hangers thereby supporting garments without creasing or
otherwise damaging the garments. A clothes hanger comprises wings
supported for sliding movement along a hanger support rod. The
wings engage interior surfaces of garments thereby supporting the
garments without damage. A garment transportation and storage
device comprises a support rod at the bottom, a hook at the top,
and a ball-shaped handle between the support rod and the hook for
transporting garments supported on the support rod by hangers and
for engaging the hook with a support structure.
Inventors: |
Lueth; Jacquelynn R.;
(Encino, CA) ; Garnet; William D.; (Encino,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Michael A. O'Neil;Michael A. O'Neil, P.C.
Suite 820
5949 Sherry Lane
Dallas
TX
75225
US
|
Family ID: |
36943162 |
Appl. No.: |
11/368873 |
Filed: |
March 6, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60659248 |
Mar 7, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
223/85 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 25/1457 20130101;
A47G 25/485 20130101; A47G 25/30 20130101; A47G 25/445
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
223/085 |
International
Class: |
A41D 27/22 20060101
A41D027/22 |
Claims
1. For use in conjunction with a clothes hanger of the type
including a wire frame comprising a length of wire defining an
upper hook portion extending to a twisted portion extending to a
pair of outwardly and downwardly extending arms each extending to
an inwardly directed support member and a cardboard tube supported
by the support members of the wire frame for receiving and
supporting clothing items thereon, the cardboard tube defining a
garment support surface characterized by a predetermined diameter,
the improvement comprising: means supported on the cardboard tube
of the hanger for providing a garment support surface characterized
by a diameter substantially greater than the diameter of the
garment support surface defined by the cardboard tube for
supporting clothing items on the hanger without causing creasing or
damage thereof.
2. The improvement according to claim 2 wherein the means the
providing a garment support surface having a substantially
increased diameter comprises a soft sponge rubber tube having a
tubular passageway extending therethrough which is substantially
equal in diameter to that of the cardboard tube and; means for
securing the soft sponge rubber tube in surrounding engagement with
the cardboard tube of the hanger.
3. The improvement according to claim 2 wherein the soft sponge
rubber tube is characterized by a radial slit extending the entire
length thereof and means located at the ends of the slit for
securing the soft sponge rubber tube in surrounding engagement with
the cardboard tube.
4. The improvement according to claim 3 wherein the means providing
a garment support surface having a substantially increased diameter
comprises a length of fabric wrapped around the cardboard tube.
5. For use in conjunction with a clothes hanger of the type
comprising a plastic frame, a metal support hook extending upwardly
from the plastic frame, and a normally horizontally disposed
support rod supported on the plastic frame, the improvement
comprising: a pair of opposed wings supported on the support rod of
the hanger for engagement with opposed interior surfaces of a
garment; and means for securing the opposed wings at predetermined
locations along the length of the support rod of the hanger.
6. The improvement according to claim 5 wherein the wings comprise
elongate, normally vertically disposed end surfaces for engagement
with interior surfaces of a garment.
7. The improvement according to claim 6 wherein the means for
securing the wings at predetermined locations lengthwise along the
support rod comprises spring loaded clips mounted on the wings for
gripping engagement with the support rod of the hanger.
8. An apparatus for transporting a plurality of clothing items each
supported on a clothes hanger comprising: a normally horizontally
disposed support rod for receiving and supporting a plurality of
clothes hangers each having at least one clothing item supported
thereon; a semicircular hook operatively connected to the support
rod and positioned thereabove for supporting the support rod and
clothing items supported thereon from a supporting structure; and a
handle disposed between and operatively connected to the support
rod and the hook for use in transporting clothing items supported
on the support rod.
9. The device according to claim 8 wherein the hook is rotatably
connected to the support rod.
10. The device according to claim 8 wherein the handle is spherical
in shape.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] Applicant claims priority based on provisional patent
application Ser. No. 60/659,248 filed Mar. 7, 2005, the entire
content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates generally to clothes hangers, and
more particularly to improved clothes hangers which prevent creases
and fabric wear in articles of clothing supported thereby.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] When pants are cleaned by a laundry or dry cleaning service
they are traditionally returned hung over a clothes hanger having a
cardboard garment support tube. If the pants are left on the
clothes hanger for an extended period of time a crease is formed at
the point where the pants engage the garment support tube. Further,
the cardboard support tube traditionally has a light adhesive
coating which retains the pants on the hanger; however the coating
can adversely affect the pile of the fabric and eventually degrade
the appearance thereof.
[0004] Other items of clothing such as shorts, skirts, scarves, and
linens are also returned on traditional hangers. As described
above, the cardboard support tube can imprint a crease on these and
other clothing items and the adhesive coating can damage articles
comprising delicate fabrics.
[0005] The present invention comprises improvements in the art of
clothes hanger design which overcome the foregoing and other
difficulties which have long since characterized the prior art. In
accordance with a first embodiment of the invention the effective
diameter of the support surface of an otherwise traditional clothes
hanger is substantially increased thereby substantially reducing
the likelihood that garments supported on the clothes hanger will
become creased and eliminating the necessity of an adhesive layer
for securing garments in engagement with the support surface. The
effective diameter of the support surface of a hanger may be
increased either by surrounding the cardboard support tube with a
layer of plastic foam or by wrapping a fabric layer around the
support tube.
[0006] In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention an
otherwise conventional clothes hanger of the type comprising a
plastic frame, a metal support rod secured on the plastic frame,
and spring loaded clips for retaining garments on the metal support
rod is provided with a pair of garment supporting wings. The wings
are slidably supported on the support rod and extend laterally
outwardly to engage opposed interior surfaces of skirts and similar
garments. In this manner the garments are supported on the hanger
without danger of creasing.
[0007] A related problem comprises the fact that clothes are often
returned from the laundry or dry cleaners supported on a plurality
of hangers. As is well known to consumers, handling a plurality of
garments supported on a plurality of hangers is awkward at best.
Also, it is virtually impossible to support a plurality of hangers
from the small coat hooks that are typically found in
automobiles.
[0008] In accordance with a third embodiment of the invention a
clothes hanger transporting device comprises a hook at the top, a
support rod at the bottom, and a ball-shaped handle positioned
between the hook and the support rod to facilitate carrying a
plurality of hanger support garments and to facilitate engaging the
hook a support structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] A more complete understanding of the present invention may
be had by reference to the following Detailed Description when
taken in connection with the accompanying Drawings, wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a clothes hanger
comprising a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a clothes hanger comprising
a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a clothes hanger comprising
a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a front view of the clothes hanger of FIG. 3;
[0014] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a portion of the clothes
hanger of FIG. 3; and
[0015] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a garment transportation
device comprising a third embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Referring now to the Drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1
thereof, there is shown a clothes hanger 10 comprising a first
embodiment of the invention. The clothes hanger 10 comprises a
conventional clothes hanger 12 including a length of wire 14
comprising an upper hook portion 16 extending to a twisted portion
18 which in turn extends to a pair of downwardly and outwardly
extending arms 20 terminating in support members 22. A cardboard
garment support tube 24 extends between the support members 22 and
is supported thereby.
[0017] As is well known, utilization of the hanger 10 and similar
clothes hangers in the transportation and storage of garments
incorporates inherent difficulties. First, the cardboard garment
support tube 24 defines a relatively small diameter garment support
surface which tends to form creases in garments supported thereon
for even a short period of time. Second, the cardboard garment
support tube 24 is frequently provided with a light adhesive
coating which can damage delicate fabrics and can also damage more
durable fabrics if supported on the clothes hanger 10 over an
extended period of time.
[0018] In accordance with a first embodiment of the present
invention a soft sponge rubber tube 26 is received on and supported
by the cardboard tube 24. The soft sponge rubber tube 26
substantially increases the effective diameter of the garment
support surface of the hanger 10 thereby substantially decreasing
the probability that garments supported thereon will be creased.
Additionally, the soft sponge rubber tube 26 does not require a
light adhesive coating as does the cardboard tube 24 thereby
eliminating the possibility of damage to garments supported on the
hanger 10 due to contact thereof with the light adhesive coating
which is typically provided on the exterior surface on the
cardboard tube 24.
[0019] For example, the cardboard garment support tube of a typical
clothes hanger has an outside diameter of about 1/2 inch. The soft
sponge rubber tube of the present invention has an outside diameter
of about 1.25 inches. Thus, the effective diameter of the garment
support surface of the hanger of the present invention is 21/2
times as large as the effective diameter of the garment support
surface of a conventional clothes hanger.
[0020] The soft sponge rubber tube 26 is provided with a radial
slit 28 which extends the entire length of the tube 26 thereby
facilitating deployment of the tube 26 over the cardboard tube 24.
The opposite ends of the slit 28 comprising the tube 26 may be
provided with lengths of double sided adhesive tape 30 whereby the
ends of the slit are secured against opening during utilization of
the hanger 10.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a clothes hanger 40
comprising a variation of the clothes hanger 10 illustrated in the
first sheet of drawings. Many of the component parts of the clothes
hanger 40 are substantially identical in construction and function
to component parts of the hanger 10. Such identical component parts
are designated on the second sheet of drawings with the same
reference numerals utilized above in the description of the clothes
hanger 10 but are differentiated therefrom by means of a prime (')
designation.
[0022] The clothes hanger 40 differs from the clothes hanger 10 in
that rather than being provided with a soft sponge rubber tube
surrounding the cardboard tube 24', the clothes hanger 40 is
provided with a tube 42 comprising a roll of fabric secured in
place by an adhesive layer 44. The function of the tube 42 is to
substantially increase the effective diameter of the clothing
support surface of the hanger 40. In this manner the likelihood
that garments supported by the clothes hanger 40 will be creased
during utilization thereof is substantially reduced. Additionally,
the tube 42 does not require use of a light adhesive coating as is
frequently required in the use of the cardboard tube 24 thereby
further diminishing the possibility of damage to garments supported
by the clothes hanger 40.
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 there is shown a clothes
hanger 50 comprising a second embodiment of the invention. The
clothes hanger 50 comprises a plastic frame 52 having a metal hook
54 extending upwardly therefrom. A metal support rod 56 extends
between and is supported on the opposite ends of the plastic frame
52. A pair of wings 58 are supported on the support rod 56 for
longitudinal movement therealong. Each wing 58 is provided with a
spring loaded clip 60 which functions to secure the wing at a
predetermined location along the support rod 56 depending upon the
requirements of particular applications of the invention.
[0024] Because the wings 58 are movable inwardly and outwardly on
the rod 56, the hanger 50 is adapted for use with garments
comprising a wide range of sizes, for example, from size 2 through
and including size 20. The inward and outward movement of the wings
58 allows the hanger 50 to support garments thereon with no tension
or stretching.
[0025] In the utilization of the hanger 50 the plastic wings 58 are
moved outwardly until the end surfaces 62 thereof engage interior
surfaces of a skirt, a pair of shorts, or other garment. In use,
the wings 58 function to secure a garment on the hanger 50 during
transportation and storage of the garment. More importantly, the
wings 58 function to prevent damage to of the garment during
transportation and support thereof on the hanger 50. The use of the
hanger 50 facilitates support and transportation of garments with
no marking, no clip mark, or other damage as is sometimes
experienced in the use of conventional clothes hangers.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a garment transportation
and storage device 70 comprises a third embodiment of the
invention. The device 70 comprises length of wire 72 which is
formed into a support hook 74 at the upper end thereof. The length
of wire 72 extends downwardly from the hook 74 through a central
portion 76. At the lower end of the device 70 a length of wire 77
is bent into a triangular configuration 78 thus providing a hanger
support rod 80. The hook 74 is rotatably connected to the support
rod 80.
[0027] A ball-shaped handle 82 is secured around the central
section 76 of the length of wire 72, it being understood that other
handle configurations can be utilized in the practice of the
invention. The handle 82 may comprise a unitary construction formed
from molded plastic or molded rubber. Alternatively, the handle 82
may comprise a two part construction which snaps together around
the central portion 72 of the length of wire 72 as shown.
[0028] In use, the garment transportation device 70 is employed to
receive garments from a laundry or dry cleaner. Garments supported
on conventional hangers of the type utilized by laundries and dry
cleaners are supported on the support rod 80 by engaging the hooks
of the hangers therewith in the conventional manner. After the
hangers which support all of the garments received from a
particular laundry or dry cleaner are engaged with the support rod
80 the handle 82 is utilized to transport the device 70 and the
garments supported thereby, for example, from the laundry or dry
cleaners to a vehicle. At that point the hook 74 of the device 70
is utilized to support the device 70 and the garments supported
thereby from the coat hanger of the vehicle. Another important use
of the device 70 is the transportation of garments supported on
hangers from a laundry or dry cleaners to a residence in crowded
urban areas such as New York City.
[0029] Upon arrival at a particular designation the device 70 is
utilized to transport the garments supported by the support rod 80
to a storage location, for example, a closet. Once again the handle
is utilized to facilitate lifting and carrying the garments
supported on the support rod 80. The hook 72 may be utilized to
support the garments on a closet rod or the like while the garments
are being individually disengaged from the support rod 80.
Thereafter the garments are preferably disengaged from the hangers
utilized by the laundry or the dry cleaners to deliver garments to
customers and are transferred to hangers comprising the present
invention, for example, the hangers shown in FIGS. 1 through 5,
inclusive, hereof.
[0030] Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the
foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the
invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is
capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and
substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the
spirit of the invention.
* * * * *