DE29514493U1 - Hangers - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a single-section clothes hanger with a hanger hanging area and at least two hanger legs for holding items of clothing, of which the first hanger leg extending from the hanger hanging area has a first and a second leg section, which are spaced apart by an intermediate area that is open on one side.

Clothes hangers with two hanger legs and a hanger hook for hanging the hanger, e.g. on a wardrobe rail, are known, whereby the hanger hook is usually positioned in the middle of the weight and above the hanger legs, and the hanger legs originate from a branch at the lower end of the hanger hook and run outwards from this point. In order to create weight-related symmetry, the entire hanger is essentially symmetrical with respect to the vertical axis, which runs through the connecting area between the hanger hook and the hanger leg, except for details in the hook area.

In addition to jackets, coats and the like, such coat hangers are also used to hold shirts, blouses, dresses, sweaters and other high-necked and/or buttoned items of clothing.

On the other hand, clothes hangers are also known which are designed as single-section, i.e. unbranched. The hanger usually runs from a hook area, which is designed to be centrally weighted, first laterally outwards to form a hanger leg, and then horizontally in a more or less wide arc.

over the vertical center line of the hanger in a horizontal orientation to the laterally opposite side, so that the second hanger leg is essentially horizontal. Hangers of this type are generally used to hold items of clothing that can be stored most easily by, for example, placing them over a horizontally arranged support bar. This applies in particular to scarves, neckerchiefs, but especially also to trousers, the latter being folded approximately in the middle between the knee area and the crotch perpendicular to the crease over the horizontally arranged bar of such a hanger and hanging freely vertically from the horizontal bar after the hanger has been hung up.

The following problem occurs when using such hangers to hold shirts, blouses, dresses, sweaters or other high-necked and/or buttoned items of clothing. If the item of clothing is high-necked and can be buttoned in the collar or neck area, such as shirts, blouses or dresses, the item of clothing must be opened in the collar or neck area before it can be picked up in order to be able to insert the hanger legs through the then enlarged neck opening of the item of clothing into the sleeve openings. The hanger with the item of clothing securely held can then be attached to a coat rack rail, for example, although it may be necessary to close the collar or neck area again to secure the item of clothing on the hanger. To remove the item of clothing, the collar or neck area of the item of clothing must be opened again after the hanger has been removed from the coat rack rail.

The repeated opening and closing of the collar or neck area is usually annoying and time-consuming and

fert, especially with freshly washed, starched and ironed shirts, the risk of creasing and soiling the collar or neck area.

The other possible way of handling conventional clothes hangers, namely inserting them through the lower opening at the waist of the garment, is cumbersome and therefore not practical in mass production and also carries the risk of creasing and soiling.

When picking up sweaters, especially tight and high-necked turtleneck sweaters, it is necessary to stretch the neck or collar area apart in order to insert the arms into the sleeve openings, which in the long run overstretches and stretches the neck or collar area of the sweater, with the garment ultimately losing its shape and wearing out more quickly.

The invention is based on the object of creating a clothes hanger of the type mentioned at the beginning, which allows hanging up and taking down, in particular, high-necked items of clothing, such as blouses, shirts or dresses that are already buttoned, as easily as possible and enables particularly gentle storage of such items of clothing.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a clothes hanger of the type mentioned at the outset according to the characterizing features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the clothes hanger according to the invention are the subject of the subclaims .

In a clothes hanger according to the invention, the intermediate area between the first and second leg sections of the first hanger leg adjoining the hanger hanging area is designed as a notch or as a narrow gap. This makes it possible to create a highly

to hang a closed item of clothing, in particular a shirt that is already buttoned in the collar area, on the hanger, in particular to insert the hanger legs through the neck opening into the sleeve openings without having to widen the neck or collar area of the item of clothing by opening it. To do this, the clothes hanger according to the invention is held with one hand, for example, at the hanger hanging area and moved in such a way that the second hanger leg adjoining the first hanger leg moves through the neck or collar opening of the item of clothing from the inside into a sleeve opening. The hanger is then moved further in the same direction in such a way that the neck or collar area of the item of clothing slides into the intermediate area between the first and second leg sections of the first hanger leg and then, by pivoting the hanger, the first hanger leg is pushed completely through the neck or collar opening of the item of clothing. By moving the hanger in the opposite direction, the first hanger leg slides from the inside into the other sleeve opening of the garment in such a way that the garment then rests evenly on both hanger legs.

The first and the second bracket leg form an obtuse angle with each other, which is in particular smaller than

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180 and whose tip points towards the hanger hanging area.

This has the advantage that the items of clothing that are picked up are gently placed on the hanger legs in a downwardly angled shape that is adapted to the shoulder area of the item of clothing. The design of the clothes hanger according to the invention thus allows items of clothing, especially those with high necklines, to be hung up and taken down easily and quickly and to be stored carefully.

In order to make it as easy as possible to insert the neck or collar area of the item of clothing to be hung up without pivoting the hanger around a horizontal axis, it is advisable to select the leg sections and the intermediate area between the leg sections in such a way that the first leg section is arranged essentially above the second leg section and originates from the hanging area, with the two leg sections being connected to one another in an outer end area. In order to prevent an item of clothing from accidentally slipping off, particularly during mass operation, e.g. in a large laundry, it may also be advisable to arrange the leg sections horizontally next to one another in the end area of the first hanger leg and to arrange the leg sections vertically one above the other in the area where the first leg section originates from the hanging area. This effect can be further enhanced if the transition from the vertical arrangement of the leg sections in the area of the bracket suspension area to the horizontal arrangement of the leg sections in the end area is monotonous. It is advantageous if the distance between the first and second leg sections is essentially constant. Depending on the application, it can also be advantageous to arrange the leg sections next to each other at the same height or to arrange the second leg section above the first leg section.

Handling is made even easier if the second stirrup leg emerges from the second leg section of the first stirrup leg at the tip of the angle between the two legs. This is precisely when the two stirrup legs are separated from each other by the angle area and threading the respective stirrup legs into the sleeve openings is particularly straightforward.

In order to attach the clothes hanger, the hanging area can be designed as a hook element in a particularly simple embodiment, which is arranged in the middle of the weight between the first and second hanger legs. This ensures that the clothes hanger hangs in balance even when empty, with the hanger legs being arranged essentially at the same height. Depending on the application, it is advantageous to orient the opening of the hook in the same or opposite direction to the opening of the intermediate area. A hook that can rotate around a vertical axis is also possible.

In order to make it as easy as possible to thread the stirrup legs into the sleeve openings with one hand, it is advantageous that the hook element starts at a point and ends in a linear neck area, with the neck area then merging into the first leg section of the first stirrup leg. The neck area can serve as a handle when threading the stirrup legs with one hand and the hook element also makes it easier to coordinate when pivoting the stirrup.

The hanging area of the clothes hanger according to the invention can also have adhesive elements, e.g. in the form of a suction cup for fixing to a smooth surface or a Velcro strip for fixing to a surface covered with textile. In addition, fixing elements with snap fasteners and rolling elements, as are common in clothes hanger columns in laundries, are also conceivable.

It can also be advantageous to arrange the hanging area asymmetrically and not in the middle of the weight between the hanger legs. This is particularly useful for unusual items of clothing with an asymmetrical cut. Only then is it possible to store such items of clothing hanging in balance.

In order to be able to hold another item of clothing in addition to a shirt, blouse or the like, it may be necessary and expedient to provide a third hanger leg. This preferably adjoins the outer end area of the second hanger leg, with the angle to the second hanger leg and the length of the third hanger leg being selected such that the third hanger leg is aligned essentially horizontally, points in the direction of the end area of the first hanger leg and there is only a small distance, e.g. in the form of a gap, between the end areas of the third and first hanger legs. In this way, in addition to shirts and blouses, which are held by the first and second hanger legs, items of clothing can also be attached to the same hanger which are usually simply hung over a horizontally arranged rod, such as trousers, scarves or ties. The small spacing between the end areas of the first and third hanger legs allows the item of clothing to be held by the third hanger leg to be easily threaded through.

It is also conceivable not to let the third bracket leg originate from the end region of the second bracket leg or to design the third bracket leg to be pivotable relative to the second bracket leg.

In addition to making it easier to pick up buttoned garments, the threading of the hanger legs into the sleeve opening of the garment should also be particularly gentle. To this end, it is particularly useful to make the hanger leg end areas rounded. It is therefore sensible for the second hanger leg to have an outer end area that is slightly bent downwards and formed in the form of a loop by means of a parallel return. This loop can be circular,

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parabolic or elliptical. If the intermediate area of the first hanger leg and the loop-shaped end area of the second hanger leg formed with the return are essentially symmetrical to each other with respect to a horizontal cutting plane, this results in the end areas of the hanger legs being wider than the centrally formed hanging area, so that a relatively wide threading and support area for the item of clothing is created, which leads to particularly gentle storage of the item of clothing on the hanger, especially in the shoulder area of the item of clothing. Furthermore, for gentle handling of the hanger in connection with the item of clothing to be stored, it is advisable to make the cross sections of the leg sections or the hanger legs or the hanging area approximately circular. This is why the hanger can also be designed as a bent wire or as a bent tube. In addition to circular cross-sections for wire and tube, any rounded cross-section shape is also conceivable, such as parabolic or elliptical cross-sections.

Materials used to make the hanger can include wood, metal, plastic, plexiglass or acrylic glass, although combinations of these materials can also be useful on a hanger, e.g. to create a particularly robust base or hanging area.

A particularly cost-effective and material-saving embodiment of a coat hanger according to the invention is as a hollow form, e.g. as a bent metal tube, cast from plastic or as a correspondingly shaped sheet metal profile.

Especially with plastic hangers, the design as a milled T-shape or double T-shape is particularly effective in terms of saving material. The hanger then has increased flexural rigidity and the T-shape or double T-shape can be used as a particularly wide support surface, particularly in the end areas of the hanger legs, which is therefore gentle on clothing. It also makes sense to round off the edges of the T-shape or double T-shape.

In this case, a one-piece hanger is particularly suitable for mass production of the clothes hangers according to the invention.

In order to create the weight symmetry of the clothes hanger, the material thicknesses and cross-sectional profiles of the individual hanger legs and leg sections can be varied. In particular, to compensate for the weight of the two-legged first hanger leg, the second hanger leg can have a higher material thickness than the individual leg sections of the first hanger leg.

Furthermore, notches or hooks can be provided on the top sides of the first and second hanger legs, particularly preferably in the area of the end areas of the hanger legs. In addition to creating the weight-related symmetry of the hanger, these notches or hooks have the additional advantage that they can accommodate skirt, dress or trouser loops or the like, so that the clothes hanger according to the invention can be used universally, because skirts, dresses, trousers and the like can also be attached to it.

In order to prevent a high-necked garment from slipping off the hanger, it is advisable

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moderately that the gap area between the first and second leg sections of the first bracket leg can be closed. The elastic properties of the bracket can be used to move the first leg section relative to the second leg section in such a way that the bend between the neck of the suspension area and the second leg section is guided downwards past the angle area between the first and second bracket legs and hooks onto a hook element formed there when guided back upwards. This closes the gap area between the first and second leg sections.

The hook element can, for example, be designed as a type of cuff in the area of the angle between the first and second bracket legs, in which the second leg section of the first bracket leg and the second bracket leg are embedded, whereby the hooking of the first leg section takes place by engaging with a projection on the cuff and whereby the pre-tension of the first leg section generated by the elasticity of the bracket is utilized compared to the second leg section. A type of hook element can also be designed directly on the second leg section of the first bracket leg by incorporating a type of projection into it, in which the first leg section can engage, as in the case of the cuff.

The invention is explained further below using a schematic drawing of an embodiment. In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a clothes hanger according to the invention according to a preferred embodiment,

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Figure 2 is a top view of a clothes hanger according to the invention in accordance with the embodiment of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a plan view of a clothes hanger according to the invention according to a preferred embodiment, the hanger being shown in the open (A) and closed state (B),

Figure 4 is a view of a hook element according to the invention for opening and closing the clothes hanger according to the invention from Figure 3, the hook element being shown in plan view (A) and in section (B), and

Figure 5 Views of a clothes hanger according to the invention according to a further embodiment in top view (A), in a view from below (B) and in section (C) at a location where another hook element is designed for opening and closing the hanger.

The embodiment of a clothes hanger according to the invention shown in Figure 1 has a hanger suspension area 3 formed as a hook and two hanger legs 6 and 11, whereby the first hanger leg 6 adjoining the hook 3 extends to the left and consists of two leg sections 6a and 6b, which are connected to one another in the end area 9 on the left.

The opening of the hook 3 is opposite the opening of the intermediate region 7, which separates the leg sections 6a and 6b from each other. The hook 3 has a rounded end region 2 and is essentially half-

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circular in shape, with the transition from the hook 3 to the first leg section 6a being created by a substantially linear, downward and slightly left-hand neck region 4. The leg sections 6a and 6b are arranged substantially one above the other, with the first, upper leg section 6a emerging from the neck region 4 in a bend 5 and lying directly vertically above the second leg section 6b.

The leg sections 6a and 6b of the first bracket leg 6 and the intermediate area 7 between the leg sections 6a and 6b are of approximately the same thickness and run monotonously around each other, so that with the addition of the end area 9 of the first bracket leg 6, on the one hand a loop-shaped outer or inner contour is created, as shown in Figure 2, which is slightly bent downwards, and on the other hand the leg sections 6a, 6b in the end area 9 lie horizontally next to each other at the same height.

The second bracket leg 11 is connected to the second, lower leg section 6b, whereby the first bracket leg 6 with its two leg sections 6a and 6b forms a

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angle of approximately 150 and the angle tip 10 points vertically upwards in the region of the centrally arranged hook 3, so that a substantially axially symmetrical shape of the bracket 1 results with respect to a vertical axis running through the hook element 3.

The end region 12 of the second bracket leg 11 is constructed symmetrically with respect to the end region 9 of the first bracket leg 6. This is essentially due to the fact that the second bracket leg 11 has a parallel, returned part 15 in the outer end region 12, designed in the manner of a loop 14. This loop 14

is slightly bent downwards, as is the case with end section 9 of the first stirrup leg.

Figure 2 shows a view from above of the same embodiment for a clothes hanger according to the invention as in Figure 1. Here it is clearly visible that the end areas 9 and 12 of the hanger legs 6 and 11 are constructed symmetrically by essentially loop-shaped intermediate areas 7 and 14. The central area 10, where the hanger suspension area is also located, is significantly narrower than the end areas 9 and 12. The outermost tip of the parallel return 15 of the second hanger leg 11 is slightly rounded.

Figures 3 to 5 show how the clothes hanger 1 according to the invention can be closed with respect to its intermediate region 7 between the first leg section 6a and the second leg section 6b in order to prevent items of clothing from slipping off once they have been picked up.

Figure 3 shows a clothes hanger 1 according to the invention, in the angle region 10 of which a hook element for opening and closing the hanger in the form of a cuff 17 is attached between the first hanger leg 6 and the second hanger leg 11, 15.

In Figure 3A, the clothes hanger 1 is shown in the open state, in which the high-necked garment can be picked up by threading it, as described above. After threading it, the first leg section 6a of the first hanger leg 6 can be moved downwards relative to the second leg section 6b in such a way that the bend 5 between the neck region 4 of the hanging region 3 and the first leg section 6a is at the angle 10 between the first hanger leg 6 and the second hanger leg 6.

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legs 11, 15. After releasing the first leg section 6a, it tries to snap back into its starting position, driven by the elastic forces, but in doing so it engages with the projection 18 of the hook element 17 and is held there, so that the bracket is now in a state where the intermediate region 7 is closed, as shown in Figure 3B.

Figure 4A shows an enlarged view of the hook element 17 for opening and closing the intermediate area 7 of the clothes hanger 1 according to the invention. This hook element 17 is designed here in the form of an additionally attached cuff 17, wherein this cuff encloses the second leg section 6b of the first hanger leg 6 and the second leg section, which is formed by the actual second hanger leg 11 and by its loop-shaped return 15.

Figure 4B shows a sectional view, with the cutting plane running along the line B-B marked in Figure 4A and perpendicular to the drawing plane. The projection 18 of the sleeve 17 can be clearly seen here. Furthermore, the recessed and enclosed bracket legs or leg sections 6b, 11 and 15 are also shown in the cross section, here with circular cross sections. Furthermore, the movement sequence during the transition from the open to the closed state of the bracket 1 is also indicated here by dashed markings of the moving first leg section 6a. First, the first leg section 6a is guided downwards past the sleeve 17 from above and then snaps upwards due to the restoring elastic forces, engaging with the projection 18 of the sleeve 17.

Figure 5 describes another embodiment example for the hook element 17 for opening and closing the clothes hanger 1 according to the invention. Here, the hook element 17 is machined as a projection 18 from the material of the second leg section 6b of the first hanger leg 6.

Figure 5A shows a top view of this embodiment in the closed state, Figure 5B a view from below for the same embodiment. The line C-C indicates the position of a cutting plane. This cutting plane runs directly through the hook element formed on the second leg section 6b, which is shown in cross section in Figure 5C, whereby the closed state of the clothes hanger was also selected here. As in the embodiment with the cuff, here too the first leg section 6a of the first hanger leg 6 comes to rest on the projection 18 of the hook element 17 after being guided past the hook element 17 due to the restoring elastic forces, whereby the hanger 1 is and remains closed with respect to its intermediate area 7.

Claims (24)

1. Single-section clothes hanger (1), with a hanger hanging area (3) and at least two hanger legs (6, 11, 15) for holding items of clothing, of which the first hanger leg (6) extending from the hanger hanging area (3) has a first and a second leg section (6a, 6b) which are spaced apart by an intermediate area (7) open on one side, characterized in that the first and the second hanger leg (6, 11) form an obtuse angle (10) to one another, in particular a small O
ner than 180 , with tip to hanging area (3) form, and that the intermediate region (7) is designed as a narrow gap (7) or incision (7) between the first and second leg sections (6a, 6b). 2. Clothes hanger according to claim 1, characterized in that the leg sections (6a, 6b) are arranged as an upper leg section (6a) and a lower leg section (6b) essentially one above the other and that the upper leg section (6a) originates from the suspension area (3). 3. Clothes hanger according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first leg section (6a) and the second leg section (6b) are connected to one another in an outer end region (9). 4. Clothes hanger according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the leg sections (6a, 6b) are arranged horizontally next to one another in the end region (9) and that the leg sections (6a, 6b) are arranged vertically one above the other in the region (5) where the first leg section (6a) originates from the hanging region (3). 5. Clothes hanger according to claim 4,
characterized in that the transition from the vertical arrangement of the leg sections (6a, 6b) in the region (5) to the horizontal arrangement of the leg sections (6a, 6b) in the end region (9) is monotonous. 6. Clothes hanger according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and second leg sections (6a, 6b) are spaced apart from one another at a substantially constant distance. 7. Clothes hanger according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second leg section (6b) merges into the second hanger leg (11) at the tip of the angle (10). 8. Clothes hanger according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suspension area (3) is arranged centrally between the first and second hanger legs (6, 11). 9. Clothes hanger according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suspension area (3) is designed as a hook element (3), that the hook element (3) starts from a tip (2) and ends in a substantially linear neck region (4) and that the neck area (4) merges into the first leg section (6a). 10. Clothes hanger according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and second hanger legs (6, 11) each have at least one notch and/or one hook on their upper side for receiving a skirt, dress or trouser loop or the like and/or for creating the weight symmetry of the clothes hanger (1) and that the notches or hooks are preferably formed in the region of the end regions (9, 12). 11. Clothes hanger according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hanger legs (6, 11) and/or the suspension area (3) are approximately circular, in particular in the form of a metal wire or a tube. 12. Clothes hanger according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clothes hanger (1) is formed in one piece. 13. Clothes hanger according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second hanger leg (11), in particular to create the weight symmetry of the clothes hanger (1), has a greater material thickness than the leg sections (6a, 6b). 14. Clothes hanger according to claim 1,3 or any of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that the leg sections (6a, 6b) are arranged essentially next to each other at the same height and that the first leg section (6a) corresponds to the suspension area (3) arises. 15. Clothes hanger according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second hanger leg (11) has an outer end region (12) which is slightly bent downwards and is formed in the manner of a loop (14) by means of a parallel return (15). 16. Clothes hanger according to claim 15,
characterized in that the intermediate region (7) of the first bracket leg (6) and the loop-shaped end region (12) of the second bracket leg (11) formed with the return guide (15) are designed substantially symmetrically to one another with respect to a horizontal cutting plane. 17. Clothes hanger according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the second hanger leg (11) merges into a third hanger leg (15) at its outer end region (12). 18. Clothes hanger according to claim 17,
characterized in that the angle between the second bracket leg (11) and the third bracket leg (15) is selected such that the third bracket leg (15) is aligned substantially horizontally and is guided back with respect to the end region (9) of the first bracket leg (6). 19. Clothes hanger according to claim 18,
characterized in that the third bracket leg (15) has a length such that its end region (16) is positioned only slightly spaced from the second leg portion (6b). 20. Clothes hanger according to one of claims 1 to 10 or 12 to 19, characterized in that the bracket legs (6, 11, 15) and/or the suspension area (3) are designed in a T-shape or in a double T-shape. 21. Clothes hanger according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a hook element (17) for hooking the downwardly guided first leg section (6b) is formed in the region of the angle (10). 22. Clothes hanger according to claim 21,
characterized in that the hook element (17) has a projection (18) and that the first leg section (6a) on the hook element (17) can be brought into engagement with the projection (18) and can be fixed by elastic restoring forces. 23. Clothes hanger according to one of claims 21 or 22, characterized in that the hook element (17) is designed as a sleeve into which the second leg section (6b) and the second hanger leg (11, 15) are embedded. 24. Clothes hanger according to one of claims 21 or 22, characterized in that the hook element (17) is machined as a projection (18) from the second leg section (6b).