U.S. patent application number 14/944915 was filed with the patent office on 2017-05-18 for garment hanger with offset hook.
The applicant listed for this patent is NEATFREAK GROUP INC.. Invention is credited to BERTRAND BARRE, FRANCIS LEPAGE.
Application Number | 20170135510 14/944915 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58689666 |
Filed Date | 2017-05-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170135510 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BARRE; BERTRAND ; et
al. |
May 18, 2017 |
GARMENT HANGER WITH OFFSET HOOK
Abstract
A garment hanger having a pair of hanger members that are
pivotally coupled together by a spring. The first hanger member
includes an upper hook member and a lower clip region. The second
hanger member is generally curved and includes an upper tab or
gripping surface and a lower interior region. The upper hook member
of the first hanger member extends in a plane that is laterally
offset from the plane generally defined by the upper portion of the
lower clip region so that the hook is positioned towards the center
of the closed clip during use to allow a boot or other garment to
hang more vertically.
Inventors: |
BARRE; BERTRAND;
(Lapeyrouse, FR) ; LEPAGE; FRANCIS; (Dommartin,
FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NEATFREAK GROUP INC. |
Mississauga |
|
CA |
|
|
Family ID: |
58689666 |
Appl. No.: |
14/944915 |
Filed: |
November 18, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 25/005
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47G 25/48 20060101
A47G025/48 |
Claims
1. A garment hanger, comprising: a first hanger member comprising:
a first clip member having an upper portion and a bottom portion,
the upper portion generally extending in a first plane; and a hook
member disposed substantially on top of the first clip member and
extending in a second plane that is laterally offset from the first
plane; and a second hanger member that is pivotally connected to
the first clip member.
2. The garment hanger of claim 1 wherein the second hanger member
is curved.
3. The garment hanger of claim 1 wherein the first clip member and
second hanger member are collectively substantially
hourglass-shaped.
4. The garment hanger of claim 1 wherein the hook member comprises
a neck and a hook extending from the neck.
5. The garment hanger of claim 4 wherein the hook member further
comprises exterior walls defining a hollow interior region.
6. The garment hanger of claim 1 wherein a spring pivotally biases
the second hanger member to the first clip member.
7. The garment hanger of claim 1 wherein the first clip member
includes a garment gripping surface proximate its bottom and the
second hanger member includes a garment gripping surface proximate
its bottom and opposite the garment gripping surface of the first
clip member.
8. The garment hanger of claim 7 where the garment gripping
surfaces are made from a thermoplastic elastomer.
9. The garment hanger of claim 7 wherein the garment gripping
surfaces comprise lamellae.
10. The garment hanger of claim 7 wherein the first clip member and
the second hanger member include upper manual gripping surfaces on
their exterior sides.
11. The garment hanger of claim 10 wherein the upper gripping
surfaces are made from a textured material.
12. The garment hanger of claim 1 wherein the first plane is
substantially parallel to the second plane.
13. The garment hanger of claim 1 wherein the first plane is
disposed closer than the second plane to the second hanger
member.
14. The garment hanger of claim 1 wherein the first plane is
disposed closer than the second plane to a point of pivotal
connection of the first and second hanger members.
15. The garment hanger of claim 7 wherein the garment gripping
regions adjoin each other when the garment hanger is in a closed
orientation.
16. The garment hanger of claim 15 wherein the first plane is
disposed closer than the second plane to the adjoining garment
gripping regions when the garment hanger is in the closed
orientation.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates, in general, to garment
storage and, more particularly, to garment hangers for hanging
garments for storage.
[0003] 2. General Background of the Invention
[0004] Hangers for hanging garments from a clothes rod or other
elevated structure have been known for some time. More recently,
hangers have included pairs of clip members that allow a garment to
be retained between the lower portions of the clip members. As
shown by U.S. Design Pat. Nos. D481,618 and D552,461, the hooks
utilized in such hangers commonly extend within the same plane as
one of the clip members. Accordingly, when the hanger is laden with
a garment and hung from a clothes rod or other horizontal
structure, the weight of the garment will force the hanger to list
toward the clip member having the hook.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides garment hangers that overcome
many of the shortcomings of certain prior art hangers. In
particular, garment hangers are disclosed that include a laterally
offset hook member that positions the hook member towards the
center, and hence closer to a center of gravity, of a closed clip.
As a result, garments attached to the hanger are allowed to hang
more vertically during use.
[0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, the garment
hanger includes a pair of hanger members that are pivotally
connected together through a spring. The first hanger member
includes an upper hook member and a lower clip region, with the
upper hook member being laterally offset from the upper portion of
the lower clip member. The second hanger or clip member is
generally curved or arcuate in construction and includes a tab or
upper gripping surface on its exterior side. The bottom parts of
the interior sides of the lower clip region and the second hanger
member include gripping regions to facilitate the grasping and
retention of a garment during use.
[0007] In operation, the spring biases the gripping regions of the
lower clip member and the second hanger member together so that the
clip is in a closed position. Movement of the tabs or manual
gripping surfaces of the hanger members towards each other
overcomes the spring bias and acts to separate the gripping regions
to allow a garment such as, but not limited to, a boot, to be
selectively introduced or removed from the space therein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a
garment hanger of the present invention showing the clip in the
closed position;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a left side elevated view of the garment hanger of
FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a rear elevated view of the garment hanger of FIG.
1;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the garment hanger of FIG.
1;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the garment hanger of FIG. 1;
and
[0013] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the garment hanger
of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in
many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will
herein be described in detail, several specific embodiments, with
the understanding that the present disclosure is intended as an
exemplification of the principles of the present invention and is
not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments
illustrated.
[0015] An embodiment of the present garment hanger 10 is shown in
FIGS. 1-6 as comprising a first hanger member 12 and a second
hanger or clip member 14. The hanger members are preferably
constructed of a substantially rigid material such as, but not
limited to oriented polypropylene (OPP).
[0016] Referring to FIG. 6, the first hanger member is shown as
having an upper hook member 20 and a lower clip region or member
22. While the upper hook member 20 and lower clip region 22 are
shown as being integrally formed, it is appreciated that they may
be separately formed and attached or fixed together in a known
way.
[0017] The upper hook member 20 includes a neck 30 extending from
the lower clip region 22 and culminating in a curved hook 32. The
neck 30 and hook 32 have an exterior wall 34 defining an open
region therebetween, the wall being of sufficient thickness to
withstand the weight of the desired garment(s) when in use. While
the upper hook member is shown as being generally hollow in
construction, it is appreciated that it may be solid or have
ribbing or other internal structures and not depart from the scope
of the invention. In order to provide additional strength and
lessen the risk of the upper hook member being snapped off from the
lower clip region, the walls of the neck may extend into the lower
clip region.
[0018] The lower clip region 22 includes an outer wall 40 that
defines a substantially hourglass body and an interior region.
Internal ribs 42 extend within the interior region to provide
structural support to the lower clip region 22. A pair of
spaced-apart arms 44 having holes 46 through their ends extend
outwardly from the interior of the lower clip region 22 to allow a
spring 50 to be positioned in between the arms 44. A rivot or other
connector 48 may be inserted through the holes 46 and the interior
of the spring 50. The first end 52 of the spring 50 may be
connected to the lower clip region 22 by inserting it into a
respective groove or slot 56. It is also appreciated that the end
may simply push against the interior of the lower clip member 22.
Referring to FIG. 6, the upper portion of the lower clip region is
substantially planar.
[0019] The bottom of the lower clip region 22 includes a garment
gripping region 60. While a variety of shapes, sizes and materials
may be used, in a preferred embodiment, the gripping region 60 may
encompass the majority of the interior region of the bottom of the
body of the lower clip region 22 and be made from a thermoplastic
elastomer (TPE) with lamellae 62. The griping region 60 may be
secured in place through wall 64 and wall 40 that, together, form
an enclosure for encircling the gripping region 60. The gripping
region may be secured within the enclosure using adhesives, a press
fit or other known means.
[0020] The outside of the lower clip region 22 includes a tab or
upper gripping surface 70 and a lower interior region 72 defined by
wall 40 and surface 74. One or more ribs 76 may extend within the
lower interior region 72 to provide structural strength to the
lower clip region 22. The upper gripping surface 70 is designed to
provide an area for a user to grip to facilitate separation of the
clip members. The upper gripping surface 70 may be made from a
material having a higher coefficient of friction or including a
textured surface to provide a surface that resists sliding thereon.
It is also appreciated that the upper gripping surface 70 may be
made from a material that is printable or that can receive a
sticker or other covering member thereon to allow advertising or
other indicia to be displayed thereon.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 2, the upper hook member 20 extends in a
plane that is laterally offset from the plane generally defined by
the upper portion of the lower clip member 22 so that at least part
of the upper hook member 20 extends over part of the spring 50 and
other internal components. Being laterally offset positions the
hook 32 towards the center of the clip in the closed position
(rather than one of the pivoting clip members itself). This permits
a hanger burdened by the weight of a garment, such as a boot, to
hang more vertically when in use.
[0022] The second hanger member or clip member 12 includes an outer
wall 100 that defines a substantially hourglass body and an
interior region. One or more internal ribs 102 may extend within
the interior region to provide structural support to the second
hanger member 14. A pair of spaced-apart arms 104 having holes 106
through their ends extend outwardly from the interior of the second
hanger member 14 to allow a spring 50 to be positioned in between
the arms 104. The arms 104 are offset from corresponding arms 44 on
the lower clip region 22 so that they may be placed within the arms
44 to allow the holes 46, 106 to align to permit the rivet or other
connector 48 to be inserted therethrough to attach the first and
second hanger members 12, 14 together with spring 50.
[0023] The second end 54 of the spring 50 may be connected to the
second hanger member 14 by inserting it into a respective groove,
slot or opening 110 on one of the arms 104. It is also appreciated
that the end may simply push against the interior of the second
hanger member or be attached in another known way. The bottom of
the second hanger member 14 includes a garment gripping region 120.
While a variety of shapes, sizes and materials may be used, in a
preferred embodiment, the gripping region 120 may encompass the
majority of the interior region of the bottom of the body of the
second hanger member 14 and be made from a thermoplastic elastomer
(TPE) with lamellae 122. The griping region 120 may be secured in
place through wall 124 and wall 100 that, together, form an
enclosure for encircling the gripping region 120. The gripping
region may be secured within the enclosure using adhesives, a press
fit or other known means.
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 3, the outside of the second hanger
member 14 includes a tab or upper gripping surface 130 and a lower
region or cavity 132 defined by wall 100 and surface 134. One or
more ribs 136 may extend within the lower region 132 to provide
structural strength to the second hanger member 14. The upper
gripping surface 130 is designed to provide an area for a user to
grip to facilitate separation of the clip members (i.e., opening of
the clip). The upper gripping surface may be made from a material
having a higher coefficient of friction or including a textured
surface to provide a surface that resists sliding thereon. It is
also appreciated that the upper gripping surface 130 may be made
from a material that is printable or that can receive a sticker or
other covering member thereon to allow advertising or other indicia
to be displayed thereon.
[0025] In operation, spring 50 normally biases the garment gripping
regions 60, 120 together. Grasping the hanger and exerting pressure
on the tabs or upper gripping surfaces 70, 130 overcomes the
tension of spring 50 and biases the garment gripping regions 60,
120 apart to allow a garment to be inserted therebetween. In one
embodiment, the second hanger member 14 is curved so that the angle
between the garment gripping regions 60, 120 when fully separated
is about 55 degrees. Once separated, a garment is inserted or
placed between the garment gripping regions 60, 120 and retained
therebetween by releasing pressure on the upper gripping surfaces
70, 130, which allows the spring 50 to act to bias the clip members
together, wherein the garment gripping regions 60, 120 will engage
the garment and hold it therebetween. The hook 32 may then be
placed over a clothes rod and hung thereon. The laterally offset
hook member 20 positions the hook 32 toward the center of a closed
clip, rather than inline with one of the pivoting clip members,
thereby allowing the clip and retained garment to hang more
vertically. Specifically, and as best seen in FIG. 2, lower clip
region 22 of first hanger member 12 extends vertically through a
second plane that is laterally offset from, and parallel to, a
first plane extending vertically through upper hook member 20. This
lateral offset causes the top portion of hook member 20 to be
laterally disposed closer to a garment retained by present garment
hanger 10, and thus disposed laterally closer to an overall center
of gravity of garment hanger 10 and its retained garment. As a
result, garment hanger 10 will tend to hang more vertically from an
associated clothes rod or other support, particularly when laden
with a relatively heavy garment, than with prior art hangers having
hooks extending through the same plane as an associated clip
member.
[0026] Many modifications and variations of the present invention
are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be
understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the
invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.
Various modifications, changes and variations may be made in the
arrangement, operation and details of performing the various steps
of the invention disclosed herein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention. The present disclosure is intended to
exemplify and not limit the invention.
* * * * *