GB2383945A

GB2383945A - Extendible garment hanger

Info

Publication number: GB2383945A
Application number: GB0127676A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Joseph Hunt
Original assignee: Braitrim UK Ltd
Current assignee: Braitrim UK Ltd
Priority date: 2001-11-19
Filing date: 2001-11-19
Publication date: 2003-07-16
Also published as: GB0127676D0

Abstract

An extendible garment hanger (30) comprises an arm having a longitudinal axis (40). The arm has an elongate fixed portion (32) and an elongate moveable portion (34) for movement relative to the fixed portion substantially along the longitudinal axis for extending an effective length of the arm. There is a garment retainer (36) on an end of the elongate moveable portion remote from the elongate fixed portion. There is also a first garment clip (51) on the arm and a second garment clip (52) spaced from the first garment clip on the hanger. A garment (60) may be suspended from the garment hanger, by passing a portion of the garment from the first garment clip (51), around the garment retainer (36) and along the arm to the second garment clip (52) with the elongate moveable portion (34) extended sufficiently to retain the portion of the garment tautly between the first garment clip (51) and the second garment clip (52).

Description

GARMENT HANGER This invention relates to a garment hanger.

It is a requirement in retail stores to display garments of different sizes on the same rack. It is known to use extendible garment hangers to suspend garments of different sizes, in which the size of the hanger can be adjusted to the size of the garment. However, these hangers suffer from the difficulty that when garments of significantly different sizes are hung on the same rack the variation between the sizes of the hangers is so great that the loaded rack is unsightly. In addition, larger hangers may protrude into aisles beside the rack.

As illustrated in FIG. I and 2, it is known to provide an extendible hanger 10 for supporting a garment 15 by a waistband 14 in which a catch 11 is provided at the extremity of one arm 12 of the hanger into which a portion 13 of the waistband 14 may be gathered, . This catch 11 restricts the extent to which it is necessary to extend the hanger 10 to support larger garments. However, once a garment has been removed from the hanger by a customer in a retail store, the customer experiences difficulty in re-gathering a portion of the waistband into the catch to re-hang the garment. As a result the rack of garments becomes untidy.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an extendible garment hanger which at least ameliorates these difficulties.

According to the present invention, there is provided an extendible garment hanger comprising a first arm having a longitudinal axis, the first arm comprising an elongate first fixed portion and an elongate first moveable portion for movement relative to the first fixed portion substantially along the axis for extending an effective length of the first arm; first suspension means on an end of the first moveable portion remote from the first fixed portion; first holding means on the first arm ; and second holding means spaced from the first holding means on the hanger, for suspending from the garment hanger a first garment, by passing a portion of the first garment from the first holding means around the first suspension means, along the first arm to the second holding means with the first moveable portion extended sufficiently to retain the portion of the first garment tautly between the first suspension means and the second holding means.

Conveniently, the hanger further comprises a second arm extending substantially along the longitudinal axis and opposed to the first arm and the second holding means is located on the second arm.

Advantageously, the second arm comprises a second fixed portion immoveable in relation to the first fixed portion; a second elongate moveable portion extendible relative to the second fixed portion substantially along the longitudinal axis to extend an effective length of the second arm, and second suspension means on an end of the second moveable portion remote from the

second fixed portion for suspending from the garment hanger the first garment, by passing a portion of the garment from the first holding means around the first suspension means along the first arm, along the second arm, around the second suspension means to the second holding means with the first extension member and/or the second extension member extended sufficiently to retain the portion of the first garment tautly between the first suspension means and the second suspension means.

Conveniently, the first moveable portion is telescopeable into the first fixed portion and the second moveable portion is telescopeable into the second fixed portion.

Conveniently, the first holding means is located on the first fixed portion.

Alternatively, the first holding means is located on the first moveable portion.

Conveniently, the first holding means is a single moulding with the first fixed portion or with the first moveable portion.

Alternatively, the first holding means is fixable onto the first arm.

Advantageously, the first holding means is removably fixable on the first arm.

Advantageously, first retention means are provided on the first arm to restrain movement of the first holding means towards the end of the first arm remote from the second holding means.

Conveniently, the second holding means is located on the second fixed portion.

Alternatively, the second holding means is located on the second moveable portion Conveniently, the second holding means is a single moulding with the second fixed portion or with the second moveable portion.

Alternatively, the second holding means is fixable onto the second arm.

Advantageously, the second holding means is removeably fixable on the second arm.

Advantageously, second retention means are provided on the second arm to restrain movement of the second holding means towards the end of the second arm remote from the first arm.

Conveniently, the first suspension means are adapted for alternatively suspending a second garment smaller than the first garment with one end of a portion of a second garment suspended from the first suspension means.

Advantageously, the second suspension means are adapted for alternatively suspending the second garment smaller than the first garment from the garment hanger by passing a portion of the second garment around the first suspension means and around the second suspension means.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 shows a front elevation of a prior art extendible hanger; FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the hanger of FIG. 1 in use; FIG. 3 shows a first perspective view of a first embodiment of a garment hanger according to the present invention; FIG. 4 shows a second perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the hanger of FIG 3; FIG. 5 shows an end view of the hanger of FIG 4; FIG. 6 shows a front view of the hanger of FIG. 3 in use to support a larger than standard size garment; FIG. 7 shows a top view of the hanger in use of FIG 6; FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of an end of an arm of a second embodiment of a garment hanger according to the invention; FIG. 9 shows a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 8; and FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 8 in use.

In the figures, like reference numerals denote like parts.

A garment hanger 30 according to the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 3,4 and 5, has a central suspension hook 31 central of a first elongate arm and a second elongate arm opposed to the first elongate arm. The first and second elongate arms thereby define a longitudinal axis 40

of the hanger. Telescoping into a fixed portion 32 of the first elongate arm is a first elongate extension 34 and telescoping into a fixed portion 33 of the second elongate arm is a second extension 35 such that the extension 34 is moveable partially within the fixed portion 32 of the first arm substantially along the longitudinal axis to extend the first elongate arm and the second extension 35 is movable partially within the fixed portion 33 of the second elongate arm substantially along the longitudinal axis to extend the second elongate arm. Each of the extension arms 34,35 is terminated at respective ends remote from the suspension hook 31 by

known elongate first and second garment suspension members 36,37 having garment engagement faces 361,371 respectively inclined at obtuse angles to the longitudinal axis 40. The suspension members 36,37 have, in addition, end portions, 362,372 substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 40 at an upper end, in use, of the suspension members 36,37.

At extremities of the fixed portions 32,33 of the arms remote from the suspension hook 31 there are provided first and second hook-like members 51,52 respectively. The hook-like members each comprise truncated right angle triangular portions 511,521 rising from vertical, in use, faces 321,331 of the fixed portions 32,33 of the first and second arms respectively; bridging portions 512,522 substantially perpendicular to the triangular portions 511,521 outward of the first and second fixed portions of the arms 32,33, and joined at a first end of the bridging portions to the truncated triangular portions remote from the fixed portions of the arms 32,33 respectively; and engaging portions 513,523 dependent, in use, from second ends of the bridging portions remote from the first ends of the bridging portions and substantially parallel to the vertical faces 321,331 of the fixed portions of the first and second arms 32,33 respectively such that the engaging portions 513,523 are substantially vertical in use.

To support a larger garment than, for example, English size 18, as shown in figures 6 and 7, a waistband of the garment 60 is looped around the first engaging portion 513 of the first hooklike member 51; passed around the first engaging face 361 of the first suspension member 36; along the extended lengths of the arms and extensions 32,33, 34,35 ; around the second engaging face 371 of the second suspension member 37; and looped around the second engaging portion 523 of the second hook-like member 52. The first and second moveable extension portions 34,35 are extended sufficiently to hold the waistband of the garment tautly so that the garment is supported on the engaging faces 361,371 of the first and second suspension members 36,37 respectively. The end portions 362,372 restrict movement of the waistband up the garment engagement faces 361,371 respectively.

The first and second hook-like members 51,52 described above are moulded in one piece with the fixed portions of the first and second arms 32,33, respectively. However, it will be understood that alternatively discreet hooks may be provided which, for example, clip onto the arms. Such hooks may be provided with engagement lugs for engaging apertures in the first and second arms or a stop may be provided on an arm to terminate movement of a hook in a direction away from the central suspension hook 31. Such clip-on hooks may be used to convert a hanger for suspending standard-size clothes on the garment engagement faces 361,371 of the first and second suspension members 36,37 respectively into a hanger for suspending a larger garment.

A second embodiment 70 of the invention is shown in FIGS 8,9 and 10. In the illustrations only a part of one arm is shown but it will be understood that there is a second arm which is a mirror image of the first arm. The first arm comprises a fixed portion 82 and a moveable portion 84 telescopeable into the fixed portion 82 along a common longitudinal axis 90. At an end of the

moveable portion 84 remote from the fixed portion 82 there is provided a first elongate garment suspension member 86 having an first outward facing engagement face 861 at an obtuse angle a to the longitudinal axis 90 such that the first suspension member 86 is coplanar with the moveable portion 84. A lower, in use, portion of the first suspension member 86 has a convex surface 862 extending outward of the hanger beyond a line defined by a linear portion of the engagement face 861 to improve engagement of the engagement face with a garment to be suspended. A first hook-like member 81 is joined to an upper end of the first suspension member 86 by a first bridging portion 812. The bridging portion is elongate and is joined at a first end 8121 of the bridging portion to the upper, in use, end of the first suspension member.

The bridging portion 812 extends from the first suspension member 86 in a direction outwardly from a vertical, in use, face 821 of the fixed portion 82 and extends inwardly of the hanger from the first suspension member 86 towards the fixed portion 82. Dependent from an end 8122 of the bridging portion 812, remote from the first end 8121, there is an engaging portion 813 substantially parallel to the vertical face 821 of the fixed portion 82 of the first arm such that the engaging portion 813 is substantially vertical in use. An engaging face 814 of the engaging portion 813 is inclined at an obtuse angle to the longitudinal axis 90. A lower portion 816 in use of the engaging portion is provided with a enlarged portion having a convex surface, being substantially a mirror image of the convex surface 862 of the first suspension 86, better to engage a portion of a garment around the engaging portion 813.

The second embodiment 70 of the invention is shown in FIG 10 supporting a garment 100 wherein a waist portion 101 of the garment is wrapped around the engaging portion 813, passes around the engagement face 861 and passes parallel to the moveable portion 84 and the fixed portion 82 of the first arm to pass around a second suspension member and wrap around a second engagement portion of a second arm (not shown).

In use, the bridging portion 812 restricts movement of the waistband 101 up the engagement face 861 of the first suspension member 86 and movement up the engaging face 814 of the engaging portion 813 of the first hook-like member 81.

It will be apparent that after a garment is removed from a hanger of the invention by a customer in a retail store, the garment can readily be replaced on the hanger by the customer.

Claims

1. An extendible garment hanger comprising a first arm having a longitudinal axis, the first arm comprising an elongate first fixed portion and an elongate first moveable portion for movement relative to the first fixed portion substantially along the longitudinal axis for extending an effective length of the first arm ; first suspension means on an end of the first moveable portion remote from the first fixed portion; first holding means on the first arm; and second holding means spaced from the first holding means on the hanger, for suspending from the garment hanger a first garment, by passing a portion of the first garment from the first holding means around the first suspension means, along the first arm to the second holding means with the first moveable portion extended sufficiently to retain the portion of the first garment tautly between the first suspension means and the second holding means.

2. An extendible garment hanger as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second arm extending substantially along the longitudinal axis and opposed to the first arm wherein the second holding means is located on the second arm.

3. An extendible garment hanger as claimed in claims I or 2, wherein the second arm comprises a second fixed portion immoveable in relation to the first fixed portion; a second elongate moveable portion extendible relative to the second fixed portion substantially along the longitudinal axis to extend an effective length of the second arm, and second suspension means on an end of the second moveable portion remote from the second fixed portion for suspending from the garment hanger the first garment, by passing a portion of the garment from the first holding means around the first suspension means along the first arm, along the second arm, around the second suspension means to the second holding means with at least one of the first extension member and the second extension member extended sufficiently to retain the portion of the first garment tautly between the first suspension means and the second suspension means.

4. An extendible garment hanger as claimed in claims 2 or 3, wherein the first moveable portion is telescopeable into the first fixed portion and the second moveable portion is telescopeable into the second fixed portion.

5. An extendible garment hanger as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the first holding means is located on the first fixed portion.

6. An extendible garment hanger as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first holding means is located on the first moveable portion.

7. An extendible garment hanger as claimed in claims 5 or 6, wherein the first holding means is a single moulding with the first fixed portion or with the first moveable portion respectively.

8. An extendible garment hanger as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first holding means is fixable onto the first arm.

9. An extendible garment hanger as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first holding means is removably fixable on the first arm.

10. An extendible garment hanger as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein first retention means are provided on the first arm to restrain movement of the first holding means towards the end of the first arm remote from the second holding means.

11. An extendible garment hanger as claimed in any of claims 3 to 10, wherein the second holding means is located on the second fixed portion.

12. An extendible garment hanger as claimed in any of claims 3 to 10, wherein the second holding means is located on the second moveable portion.

13. An extendible garment hanger as claimed in claims 11 or 12, wherein the second holding means is a single moulding with the second fixed portion or with the second moveable portion respectively.

14. An extendible garment hanger as claimed in any of claims 2 to 12, wherein the second holding means is fixable onto the second arm.

15. An extendible garment hanger as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second holding means is removeably fixable on the second arm.

16. An extendible garment hanger as claimed in any of claims 2 to 15, wherein second retention means are provided on the second arm to restrain movement of the second holding means towards the end of the second arm remote from the first arm.

17. An extendible garment hanger as claimed in any of claims 3 to 16, wherein the first suspension means are adapted for alternatively suspending a second garment smaller than the first garment with one end

of a portion of a second garment suspended from the first suspension means.

18. An extendible garment hanger as claimed in claim 17, wherein the second suspension means are adapted for alternatively suspending the second garment smaller than the first garment from the garment hanger by passing a portion of the second garment around the first suspension means and around the second suspension means.