U.S. patent application number 11/537819 was filed with the patent office on 2007-04-05 for adjustable hanger with size calibration and internal support device.
Invention is credited to Clifford Andrew Stubbers.
Application Number | 20070075103 11/537819 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37900920 |
Filed Date | 2007-04-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070075103 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stubbers; Clifford Andrew |
April 5, 2007 |
Adjustable Hanger with Size Calibration and Internal Support
Device
Abstract
The present invention is a garment hanger for retaining a
garment from the inside of the garment waistband. The garment
hanger also has a calibrator for determining the size of the
associated garment based on the position of the arms of the garment
hanger.
Inventors: |
Stubbers; Clifford Andrew;
(Cincinnati, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAFKAS PATENT LLC
7811 LAUREL AVENUE
CINCINNATI
OH
45243
US
|
Family ID: |
37900920 |
Appl. No.: |
11/537819 |
Filed: |
October 2, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60721901 |
Sep 30, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
223/85 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 25/446 20130101;
A47G 25/1407 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
223/085 |
International
Class: |
A41D 27/22 20060101
A41D027/22 |
Claims
1. A garment hanger comprised of: an oblong body member; a first
arm and a second arm, each connected inside the oblong body member
on opposing sides, and each arm having a gear teeth on a side of
the arm closest to a center of the oblong body member; a cog having
an gear design substantially matching and engaged with the gear
teeth of the first arm and second arm, located substantially in the
center of the oblong body member between the first arm and second
arm; a locking mechanism; a calibration means; and a suspending
means.
2. The garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein the suspending
means selected from the group consisting of a hook, a loop, and a
strap.
3. The garment hanger according to claim 1, where the first arm and
second arm are each longer than half a length of the oblong body
member.
4. The garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein one or both of
the first arm and second arm include a set of inclined ratchet
teeth on a topside or bottom side.
5. The garment hanger according to claim 4, wherein both the first
arm and the second arm include a set of inclined ratchet teeth on a
topside or bottom side such that the incline of the inclined
ratchet teeth on the first arm is in an opposite direction as the
incline of the inclined ratchet teeth on the second arm.
6. The garment hanger according to claim 5, wherein the locking
mechanism includes two or more teeth corresponding to the inclined
ratchet teeth for retaining the movement of the first arm and
second arm, such that one of the at least two teeth will correspond
to the incline of the ratchet inclined teeth of the first arm, and
one of the at least two teeth will correspond to the incline of the
ratchet inclined teeth of the second arm.
7. The garment hanger according to claim 4, wherein the locking
mechanism includes one or more teeth corresponding to the inclined
ratchet teeth for retaining the movement of the first arm and
second arm.
8. The garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein the calibration
means is a letter, number, symbol, barcode, color, or a combination
thereof visible on at least one of the first arm or second arm.
9. The garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein the calibration
means is a window in the oblong body member in which a letter,
number, symbol, barcode, color, or a combination thereof, is shown
corresponding to the position of the first arm and second arm
relative to their synchronous movement relative to the oblong body
member.
10. The garment hanger according to claim 1, where a first hand is
connected to the first arm at an end of the first arm furthest from
the oblong body member, and a second hand is connected to the
second arm at an end of the second arm furthest from the oblong
body member.
11. The garment hanger according to claim 10, wherein the first
hand and the second hand include a hook-like shape at the top,
wherein the open portion is located towards the oblong body
member.
12. The garment hanger according to claim 10, wherein the first
hand and second hand include a bottom portion that slopes in a
direction away from the oblong body member.
13. The garment hanger according to claim 12, wherein the bottom
portion of the first hand and second hand include a knob.
14. The garment hanger according to claim 10, wherein the first
hand and second hand include a bottom portion having a
spring-loaded expander.
15. The garment hanger according to claim 1, further comprised of a
pressure-sensitive transmitter to identify when the arms of the
hanger are moved such that a garment is removed from the garment
hanger.
16. A method of supporting a garment, the method comprised of:
placing a garment hanger inside the waistband of a garment, the
garment hanger being comprised of an oblong body member; a first
arm and a second arm, each connected inside the oblong body member
on opposing sides, and arm having a gear teeth on a side of the arm
closest to a center of the oblong body member; a cog having an gear
design substantially matching and engaged with the gear teeth of
the first arm and second arm, located substantially in the center
of the oblong body member between the first arm and second arm; a
locking mechanism; a calibration means; and a suspending means;
moving the first arm and second arm away from the oblong body
member in a synchronous movement such that the waist band contacts
a first hand of the first arm and a second hand of the second arm;
engaging the locking mechanism; and hanging the garment hanger via
the suspending means.
17. The method according to claim 16, wherein one or both of the
first arm and second arm include a set of inclined ratchet teeth on
a topside.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein both the first arm
and the second arm include a set of inclined ratchet teeth on a
topside such that the incline of the inclined ratchet teeth on the
first arm is in an opposite direction as the incline of the
inclined ratchet teeth on the second arm.
19. The garment hanger according to claim 18, wherein the locking
mechanism includes two or more teeth corresponding to the inclined
ratchet teeth for retaining the movement of the first arm and
second arm, such that one of the at least two teeth will correspond
to the incline of the ratchet inclined teeth of the first arm, and
one of the at least two teeth will correspond to the incline of the
ratchet inclined teeth of the second arm.
20. The garment hanger according to claim 16, wherein the
calibration means is a letter, number, symbol, barcode, color, or a
combination thereof visible on at least one of the first arm or
second arm.
21. The garment hanger according to claim 16, wherein the
calibration means is a window in the oblong body member in which a
letter, number, symbol, barcode, color, or a combination thereof,
is shown corresponding to the position of the first arm and second
arm relative to their synchronous movement relative to the oblong
body member.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application for a patent claims priority to U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 60/721,901 as filed Sep. 30,
2005.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
[0002] Not Applicable.
NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT
[0003] Not Applicable.
INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT
DISC
[0004] Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND
[0005] 1. Field of the Invention
[0006] The present invention relates generally to clothes hangers,
and more particularly, to clothes hangers having an adjustable
support system and standardized size calibration.
[0007] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0008] Clothing retailers have long suffered from the inconvenience
associated with clamp-like hangers. Clamp-like hangers typically
include two clamps or clips on separate ends of a rod or bar. An
early example of such a garment hanger is evident in U.S. Pat. No.
648,534 to Seger. A hook is connected to the rod such that the rod
is substantially balanced when the hook is hung on another rod,
hook, or the like. Each of the clamps may be opened and then closed
such that each holds an external portion of a garment by pinching
the front and back waistband of the garment together hard enough to
counteract the force of gravity.
[0009] Such hangers can be ideal for lower-body garments, such as
for example, pants and skirts having a waist size of about 30
inches or less. However, if the waist size surpasses about 30
inches, a clothing over-hang develops causing the garment to droop
and possibly fall off the hanger.
[0010] Adjusting the clamps on such hangers in an ideal position on
the rod to which to properly hold the associated garment often is a
frustrating exercise for both employees and consumers alike. As the
clamps may slide on the rod, and as each waist size ideally has a
different position of the clamps to properly balance and hold the
associated garment, ensuring the correct positioning of the clamps
can be trying.
[0011] Further frustration can occur as an individual tries to
determine the size of a garment hanging on such a clamp-like
hanger. Often times the garment is accidentally pulled from the
hanger, whether partially or fully, and then the individual must
fumble with re-hanging the garment.
[0012] Some commercially available hangers also include numbered
and/or color coded identifiers; such identifiers meant to identify
the size of an associated garment. However, use of such hangers
assumes that customers and retailers hang a garment on a hanger
having the correct identifier.
[0013] Thus, what is desired is a garment hanger that allows for
simple adjustment to hold any size garment, and also permit easier
access to determine the size of the respective garment.
SUMMARY
[0014] The various exemplary embodiments include a garment hanger
comprised of an oblong body member, a first arm and a second arm, a
cog, a locking mechanism, a calibration means, and a suspending
means. The first arm and second arm are each connected inside the
oblong body member on opposing sides, and arm having a gear teeth
on a side of the arm closest to a center of the oblong body member.
The cog has a gear design substantially matching and engaged with
the gear teeth of the first arm and second arm, and located
substantially in the center of the oblong body member between the
first arm and second arm.
[0015] The various exemplary embodiments further include a method
of supporting a garment. The method is comprised of placing a
garment hanger inside the waistband of a garment, wherein the
garment hanger is comprised of an oblong body member; a first arm
and a second arm, each connected inside the oblong body member on
opposing sides, and arm having a gear teeth on a side of the arm
closest to a center of the oblong body member; a cog having an gear
design substantially matching and engaged with the gear teeth of
the first arm and second arm, located substantially in the center
of the oblong body member between the first arm and second arm; a
locking mechanism; a calibration means; and a suspending means. The
first arm and second arm are moved away from the oblong body member
in a synchronous movement such that the waist band contacts a first
hand of the first arm and a second hand of the second arm. The
locking mechanism is engaged, and the garment hanger is hanged via
the suspending means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0016] The various exemplary embodiments of the present invention,
which will become more apparent as the description proceeds, are
described in the following detailed description in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a side view of an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 2 is an illustration of a side view of an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention in which the first arm and
second arm are extended.
[0019] FIG. 3 is an illustration of a cog inside the oblong body
member of the various exemplary embodiments of the present
invention.
[0020] FIGS. 4A through 4E illustrate various embodiments of the
first hand and second hand.
[0021] FIG. 5 is an illustration of the first arm and second arm
having opposite inclines of the inclined ratchet teeth.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] FIG. 1 is an illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the
present garment hanging device 10 in which an oblong body member 20
is connected to a first arm 30 and a second arm 40 such that the
first arm and the second arm are on opposing ends of the oblong
body member. A suspending means 50 is preferably connected to the
oblong body member at a point substantially central to the first
arm and the second arm, and balances the ends of oblong body
member. In a preferred embodiment, the suspending means is
substantially perpendicular to the oblong body member. Examples of
the suspending means include a hook, a loop, a strap, and the
like.
[0023] Each of the first arm and the second arm extend into the
oblong body member, preferably up to a distance of about just over
half of the overall length of the oblong body member. It is
preferred that the first arm and second arm overlap one another
inside the oblong body member. Each of the first arm and the second
arm may be comprised of metal, plastic, alloy, ceramic, or a
combination thereof.
[0024] Each of the first arm and second arm may be substantially
oblong in shape, for example, rectangular or cylindrical. Each arm
includes a set of gear teeth 32 and 42. In a preferred embodiment,
the gear teeth are on a side of the arm closest to the center of
the oblong body member.
[0025] Substantially central in the oblong body member is a cam,
gear, or cog 60, having a gear design 63 which substantially
matches the gear teeth of each of the first arm and second arm. See
FIG. 3. It is preferred that each of the gear teeth of the first
arm and second arm correspond to and engage the gear design of the
cog such that each of the first arm and second arm move on opposite
sides of the cog within the oblong body member. It is preferred
that the movement of the first arm and the second arm are
synchronous.
[0026] In various exemplary embodiments, at least one of the first
arm or second arm includes a set of ratchet inclined teeth 70 on a
topside 35 of the respective arm. In another exemplary embodiment,
the ratchet inclined teeth are on a bottom side of the respective
arm. The set of ratchet inclined teeth corresponds to a locking
mechanism 75. The locking mechanism includes one or more teeth for
retaining the one or more arms in a desired locked position
relative to the cog.
[0027] In another exemplary embodiment, both the first arm and the
second arm include a set of ratchet inclined teeth, 70 and 71,
respectively, on a topside 35 and 45, respectively, of each arm. In
an alternative embodiment, ratchet inclined teeth may exist on a
bottom side of one or more arms. In this embodiment, the set of
ratchet inclined teeth of the first arm are opposite that of the
set of ratchet inclined teeth of the second arm. See, FIG. 5. That
is, the incline of the ratchet inclined teeth on the first arm is
directed in an angle opposite that of the second arm. For example,
if the incline of the ratchet inclined teeth on the first arm is
about 45.degree. relative to the oblong base member, the incline of
the ratchet inclined teeth on the second arm is preferably about
135.degree. relative to the oblong base member.
[0028] Further, in the exemplary embodiment in which the both the
first arm and the second arm include a set of ratchet inclined
teeth; the locking mechanism includes at least two teeth for
retaining both the first arm and the second arm. In this
embodiment, one of the at least two teeth will correspond to the
incline of the ratchet inclined teeth of the first arm, and one of
the at least two teeth will correspond to the incline of the
ratchet inclined teeth of the second arm.
[0029] The locking mechanism may be a means of restricting the
movement of the cog.
[0030] The locking mechanism may have a spring release such that
upon release of the locking mechanism, that is, separating the one
or more teeth from the one or more sets of ratchet inclined teeth,
each of the first arm and second arm may move substantially
equidistance to or from one another relative to the cog between
them in the oblong body member. Upon engagement of the locking
mechanism, that is, contacting the one or more teeth with the two
or more sets of ratchet inclined teeth, each of the first arm,
second arm, and cog substantially stop moving.
[0031] On the outer end of each arm, that is, the end furthest from
the oblong body member, is a hand 80 and 90 for gripping and
holding a garment. The hand may be molded or cast as one piece with
the arm; it may be connected permanently; or it may be
detachable.
[0032] The hand may be of any desired shape. In a preferred
embodiment, the hand is shaped as shown in FIG. 4A having a
hook-like shape 95 at the top, wherein the open portion of the hook
is located towards the oblong body member. This hook-like shape may
serve as a thumb rest to an individual. A bottom portion 91 of the
same hand has a gentle slope away from the oblong body member and
may include a knob 92 or an upward facing hook 93 at the lowest
aspect of the bottom portion of the hand. See, for example, FIGS.
4B-4D. The bottom portion of the hand may include a spring-loaded
expander 94 that provides further tension in a direction away from
the oblong body member. See FIG. 4E.
[0033] In the various exemplary embodiments, the arm includes a
stop at the end of the arm opposite the hand. The stop
substantially prevents removal or disengagement of the arm from the
oblong body member.
[0034] In various exemplary embodiments, one or more rubber pads
(not shown) may be attached to an outside portion 96 of the hand to
diminish loss of a supported garment.
[0035] In other various exemplary embodiments, a notch 97 may be
located on the outside portion of the hand between the top portion
and the bottom portion.
[0036] A garment may be supported and suspended by the present
invention by positioning the oblong body member inside the waist of
a lower-body garment. The first arm and second arm are then moved
outwardly away from the oblong body member. See FIG. 2. The hand on
each arm should come into contact with the inside waistband of
lower-body garment. That is, rather than clamping down on the
exterior waistband of a garment, the present invention contacts the
waistband on the interior of the garment and pushes outwardly from
the oblong body member. As each of the hands of the respective arms
contact the inside of the garment, the arms are extended just far
enough from the oblong body member that the hands and arms are able
to support the associated garment based on tension against the
garment in two points; the two points at which the hands contact
the inside of the garment.
[0037] In a preferred embodiment, the hands contact the garment at
the waistband and the hand is shaped and sloped outward such that
the garment slides into a resting position such that the knob of
the hand rests just below the waistband of the garment.
[0038] Once the arms and hands are extended to a position at which
the associated garment may be supported, the locking mechanism is
checked to ensure that it is in a closed position to substantially
ensure that the arms do not move inward.
[0039] To remove the garment from the present hanger, the locking
mechanism is opened to allow free movement of the arms and hand
inward towards the oblong body member, thereby releasing the
tension supporting the garment.
[0040] Various hands, examples of which are set forth above, may be
used for varying lower-body garments, based on various styles,
fashions, cuts, and the like. In addition, as desired, the present
hanger may be used to stretch garments if a greater amount of
tension is applied to the garment.
[0041] In the various exemplary embodiments, the first arm and
second arm are substantially identical in length, and move in a
synchronous motion governed by the cog. This synchronous movement
allows for a calibration means 100.
[0042] In various exemplary embodiments, the calibration means of
the various exemplary embodiments is a window in the oblong body
member in which a letter, number, symbol, barcode, color, or a
combination thereof, is shown as the first arm and second arm
synchronously move away from or into the oblong body member. Such
calibration allows for a greater degree of standardization in size,
not only to the consumer, but also to the manufacturer and
retailer.
[0043] For example, there are typically complaints by retailers and
consumers alike that a particular waist size for one manufacturer
is not identical to the allegedly same waist size of another
manufacturer. The calibration means of the various exemplary
embodiments herein obviates such concern, as the waist size
represented in the calibration means will identify the actual waist
size, despite the manufacturer, cut, style, etc. This also assists
in obviating any question of mail or Internet purchases of
lower-body clothing, as a calibrated standard may be shown and used
by the retailer; thereby limiting returns to retailer for incorrect
sizes.
[0044] In the various exemplary embodiments in which the
calibration means illustrates a color spectrum related to size,
customers and retailers may more easily identify the size being
sought. For example, rather than looking for a "size 34" on many
pairs of jeans, one could just look quickly for the color green in
the calibration means. The color spectrum could also be represented
from blues to greens to yellows to reds, with reds being the
largest sizes, to identify greater health risks to the
individual.
[0045] In other exemplary embodiments, the calibration means may be
a letter, number, symbol, barcode, color, or a combination thereof
visible on the arm. For example, as the arms are moved in and out
of the oblong body member, a number closest to the oblong body
member may identify the size of the associated garment.
[0046] A calibration means on the arms may further support
size-integrity of a garment shown in a catalog or online, when, for
example, a first hanger according to the present invention may be
present in the waistband of the garment and the same or second
hanger may be placed towards the lower portion of the same garment
to show how the garment tapers, etc. Doing so allows for
extrapolation of garment dimensions from the picture of the garment
with the hanger.
[0047] In addition, a pressure-sensitive transmitter may be adapted
for an individual hanger to provide retailers with point-of-contact
information such as the number of times a particular pair of
clothing is removed from the hanger, and assumingly, tried on by an
individual. Further, such transmitter may identify when a garment
is not replaced to the hanger, thereby raising prompt questions of
theft.
[0048] Although the description herein describes the present
invention in association with primarily lower-body garment, it
should be understood that the hangers many also be used for
upper-body garments such as shirts, coats, and the like.
[0049] While this invention has been described in conjunction with
the specific embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many
alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to
those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of
the invention as set forth above are intended to be illustrative,
not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *