U.S. patent application number 14/892511 was filed with the patent office on 2016-03-24 for a clothes hanger.
This patent application is currently assigned to BROMPTON WASHSCAPE LTD. The applicant listed for this patent is BROMPTON WASHSCAPE LTD. Invention is credited to Andrew Capper, Philip Crewe, John Hall, Niall McRiner.
Application Number | 20160081507 14/892511 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48746998 |
Filed Date | 2016-03-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160081507 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hall; John ; et al. |
March 24, 2016 |
A CLOTHES HANGER
Abstract
An adjustable clothes hanger (1) is provided for use in
retaining a variety of sizes/types of clothing using the same
hanger. The adjustable clothes hanger (1) having a main hanger body
(2) with two arms (3) extending outwards from a central hanging
means (4) at identical but opposing angles to the central hanging
means (4). Each arm (3) has an extending element (5) pivotably
mounted at an end region thereof such that each extending element
(5) has a limited pivoting range about each arm (3). Further, first
limiting means (7) are provided to prevent each extending element
(5) pivoting outwards beyond the angle at which its associated arm
(3) extends. Second limiting means are provided to prevent each
extending element (5) pivoting inwards beyond the horizontal plane
in which the ends of arms (3) lie.
Inventors: |
Hall; John; (London, GB)
; McRiner; Niall; (London, GB) ; Capper;
Andrew; (London, GB) ; Crewe; Philip; (London,
GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BROMPTON WASHSCAPE LTD |
Liverpool Merseyside |
|
GB |
|
|
Assignee: |
BROMPTON WASHSCAPE LTD
Liverpool Merseyside
GB
|
Family ID: |
48746998 |
Appl. No.: |
14/892511 |
Filed: |
May 20, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
May 20, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB2014/051537 |
371 Date: |
November 19, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
223/85 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 25/28 20130101;
A47G 25/442 20130101; A47G 25/4061 20130101; A47G 25/44
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47G 25/44 20060101
A47G025/44 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 20, 2013 |
GB |
1309011.3 |
Claims
1. An adjustable clothes hanger comprising: a main hanger body
comprising two pairs of parallel arms extending outwards from a
central hanging means at identical but opposing angles to the
central hanging means; each pair of arms having an extending
element pivotably mounted at an end region of said arm pairing such
that each extending element has a limited pivoting range about each
arm pairing; first limiting means that prevent each extending
element pivoting outwards beyond the angle at which its associated
arm pairing extends; and second limiting means that prevent each
extending element pivoting inwards beyond the horizontal plane in
which the ends of the two pairs of arms lie.
2. The hanger of claim 1, wherein the first limiting means are
provided on the main hanger body.
3. The hanger of claim 1, wherein each of the extending elements is
provided with said first limiting means.
4. The hanger of claim 1, wherein the first limiting means are
provided on the main hanger body and on each of the extending
elements.
5. The hanger of claim 1, wherein the second limiting means are
provided on the main hanger body.
6. The hanger of claim 1, wherein each of the extending elements is
provided with said second limiting means.
7. The hanger of claim 1, wherein the second limiting means are
provided on the main hanger body and on each of the extending
elements.
8. The hanger of claim 1, wherein the end of each pair of parallel
arms are linked by a cross-bar.
9. The hanger of claim 1, wherein extending element comprises a
substantially rectangular frame pivoted mounted at a first end
thereof to its associated arm pairing.
10. (canceled)
11. The hanger of claim 9, wherein the second end of each
rectangular frame is provided with engaging means that are
complementary to the engaging means of other extending element.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to clothes hangers and in
particular clothes hangers capable of being adjusted to retain a
range of different clothing types and/or sizes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Clothes hangers are available in a large range of shapes and
sizes to accommodate various types and sizes of clothing.
[0003] Whilst some hanger designs are only suitable to retain
certain types and sizes of clothing, it is known for hangers to be
designed to accommodate multiple types and/or sizes of
clothing.
[0004] In order to accommodate multiple types/sizes of clothing it
is known to provide hangers with slideable mechanisms that are
adjustable to vary the shape of hanger so that it can better retain
a particular article of clothing. UK patent documents GB 2148107,
GB2274980 and GB277680 describe adjustable hangers of this
type.
[0005] One disadvantage of the hangers described in the prior art
is that over time, and through continuous adjusting, the hangers
can lose their ability to retain a particular shape when they are
adjusted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention seeks to provide an adjustable hanger
which is capable of retaining a range of types and/or sizes of
clothing and which survive repeated adjustment of the hanger over
an extended period of time.
[0007] To this end the present invention provides an adjustable
clothes hanger as claimed in claim 1.
[0008] It will be appreciated that in limiting the range with which
each extending elements can be pivoted relative to the hanger arm
that they are attached to it is possible to adjust the hanger to
make it suitable for either hanging large shirts or small/medium
shirts and trousers.
[0009] As will be demonstrated below it is the variation of the
positioning of the extending elements relative to the main hanger
body (and the arms) that determine the types and/or sizes of
clothing that the hanger can retain.
[0010] Preferably first limiting means may be provided on the main
hanger body. Alternatively or additionally each of the extending
elements may be provided with said first limiting means.
[0011] In this way the outward pivoting movement of the extending
elements may be limited by a stop (or another form of limiting
element) on the main hanger body, the extending element or a
combination of both.
[0012] Preferably second limiting means may be provided on the main
hanger body. Alternatively or additionally each of the extending
elements may be provided with said second limiting means.
[0013] In this way the inward pivoting movement of the extending
elements may be limited by a stop (or another form of limiting
element) on the main hanger body, the extending element or a
combination of both.
[0014] Preferably the main hanger body may comprise two pairs of
parallel arms extending outwards from the central hanging means at
identical but opposing angles to the central hanging means. Further
preferably the ends of each pair of parallel arms may be linked by
a cross-bar.
[0015] It is appreciated that providing a pair of parallel arms
rather than a single arm gives the hanger greater structural
strength. This structural strength is further supported by the
provision of the cross-bar linking each pair of arms.
[0016] Preferably each extending element may comprise a
substantially rectangular frame pivoted mounted at a first end
thereof to its associated arm. Further preferably the second end of
each rectangular frame may be provided with engaging means that are
complementary to the engaging means of other extending element.
[0017] It is appreciated that the substantially rectangular frame
provides greater structural strength to the extending elements. The
provision of the complementary engaging means help to perform the
role of the second limiting means when the two extending elements
engage with one another.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The present invention will now be described with reference
to the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, wherein:
[0019] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment
of an adjustable hanger according to the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the preferred embodiment in a
first arrangement;
[0021] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the preferred embodiment in the
first arrangement;
[0022] FIG. 4 shows a time-lapse side view of the preferred
embodiment adjusting from the first arrangement to a second
arrangement;
[0023] FIG. 5 shows a top view of the preferred embodiment in the
second arrangement;
[0024] FIG. 6 shows the preferred embodiment of the hanger, in the
first arrangement, in use with a small/medium sized shirt;
[0025] FIG. 7 shows the preferred embodiment of the hanger, in the
second arrangement, in use with a large sized shirt; and
[0026] FIG. 8 shows the preferred embodiment of the hanger, in the
first arrangement, in use with a pair of trousers.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0027] The present invention provides a clothes hanger that can be
adjusted for use in hanging clothing of various types and/or sizes.
It is appreciated that the clothes hanger of the present invention
might be used as standard clothes hangers are and be hung in a
wardrobe or cupboard.
[0028] However it is also envisioned that the adjustability of the
described hanger makes it particularly suitable for use with a
domestic washing machine of the type shown in European Patent
Application No. 06755552.4. It is envisioned that the washing
machine would be provided with one or more clothes hangers of the
present invention and that the user would be able to adjust the
hangers to suit the size and/or type of the articles of clothing
that are to be washed.
[0029] A preferred embodiment of the adjustable clothes hanger 1 of
the present invention is shown in the figures. FIGS. 6 to 8 show
how different arrangements of the same adjustable clothes hanger 1
can be used to retain different sizes/types of clothing. The
different possible arrangements of the clothes hanger will be
described in more detail hereinafter.
[0030] As will be appreciated from FIGS. 1 to 3, the adjustable
clothes hanger 1 has a main body 2. In the embodiment shown a pair
of arms 3 extend away from the main body 2 in the style of a
typical clothes hanger (i.e. at an angle that is greater than
90.degree. but less than 180.degree. from the hanging means 4).
[0031] In the hanger shown in the figures a pair of parallel arms 3
extend from either side of the main body 2. This provides
structural strength to the hanger of the present invention. However
it is appreciated that in alternative embodiments a single arm,
rather than a pair of arms, may extend from either side of the main
body 2.
[0032] The main body 2 is provided with hanging means 4, which may
be formed (e.g. moulded) as one with the main body or,
alternatively, attached to the main body using suitable attachment
means.
[0033] Although not shown in the figures it is appreciated that the
hanging means 4 may be provided with a hook to hang the hanger from
a clothes rail for example. Of course the present invention could
also make use of suitable alternatives to the hook known in the art
without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0034] Further it is considered beneficial if the hanging means are
such that they enable the hanger of the present invention to engage
with the domestic washing machine of the type shown in European
Patent Application No. 06755552.4.
[0035] Each pair of arms 3 carries an extending element 5 pivotally
mounted by a pivot 6 located at the ends of the arms 3 (or at least
in the general end region of the arms). In the preferred embodiment
the pivot 6, which is held between the two ends of arms 3, is
threaded through the extending element 5 to secure the pivotal
relationship. It will be appreciated that alternative ways of
securing the extending elements 5 to the pivots 6 will be readily
apparent to a person of suitable skill.
[0036] In the preferred embodiment each extending element 5 takes
the form of a substantially rectangular frame. However it is
appreciated that alternative shapes may also be suitable provided
they comprise at least one elongate portion that can be pivotably
mounted to an arm 3 of the main hanger body 2.
[0037] In embodiments where pairs of arms 3 are employed it is
highly preferable that the dimensions (e.g. width and length) of
each extending element must be such that it can readily pass
through the gap formed between the pivot 6 and the main body 2. In
this way the extending elements can be pivoted (see FIG. 4) from
the first hanger arrangement (shown in FIGS. 1-3) to the second
hanger arrangement (shown in FIGS. 4-5).
[0038] So that the hanger of the present invention can easily and
quickly be adjusted between the first arrangement, which is
suitable for retaining small/medium shirts and trousers, and the
second arrangement, which is suitable for retaining larger shirts,
the extent to which each extending element is free to pivot
relative to the main body is limited.
[0039] The hanger 1 is provided with first limiting means that
limit the extent to which each extending element can be pivoted
outwards relative to the arms 3 and the main body 2 (see FIG.
4).
[0040] In the preferred embodiment the first limiting means are
provided by the cross-bar 7 that extends between the ends of each
arm pairing. The cross-bar 7 is shaped and positioned so as to
ensure that each extending element 5 cannot pivot beyond the angle
of orientation of the arms to which the extending element 5 is
attached. The cross-bar 7 provides the additional benefit of giving
additional structural support.
[0041] It is envisaged that the first limiting means may be
provided by alternative arrangements, such as resilient biasing
means (e.g. springs, magnetic contacts, pneumatics) or other
physical projections (provided on the arms, body or internal
components, extending elements, hinged clips or a combination of
means) that do not necessary connect a pairing of arms
together.
[0042] The hanger 1 is also provided with second limiting means
that limit the extent to which each extending element can be
pivoted inwards relative to the arms 3 and the main body 2 (see
FIG. 4).
[0043] In the preferred embodiment the second limiting means are
provided by complementary engaging means (not shown) located on the
non-pivot ends of the extending elements 5. It is envisaged that
suitable engaging means would interlock the extending elements 5
when they are pivoted inwards towards one another.
[0044] It is envisaged that alternative, or additional, forms of
second limiting means may be provided. Once again the pivotal
movement of the extending elements beyond the chosen limits could
be restricted using resilient biasing means or other physical
projections as identified above.
[0045] The use of the adjustable hanger of the present invention
can be further understood with reference to FIGS. 6-8, which show
the hanger being used to retain different sizes/types of
clothing.
[0046] FIG. 6 shows the hanger of the present invention in a first
arrangement wherein the extending elements 5 are pivoted inwards
out of the way. This enables the hanger to be used to retain small
and medium sized shirts and tops 8.
[0047] FIG. 7 shows the hanger of the present invention in a second
arrangement wherein the extending elements are pivoted outwards
until they essentially act as extensions of the arms 3 of the main
hanger body 2. This then enables the hanger to be used to retain
larger, wider shirts and tops 9.
[0048] FIG. 8 shows the hanger of the present invention returned to
the first arrangement wherein the extending elements 5 are pivoted
inwards and locked into a secure engagement to form a horizontal
member extending along the bottom of the hanger. This then enables
the hanger to be used to retain trousers 10.
[0049] It is appreciated that the hanger of the present invention
might suitably be formed from those materials currently used to
manufacture typical clothes hangers (e.g. plastics, woods, metals
or any suitable combination thereof).
* * * * *