GB2464831A

GB2464831A - Adjustable hanger with trouser bar

Info

Publication number: GB2464831A
Application number: GB0918999A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nick Lewis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-11-01
Filing date: 2009-10-30
Publication date: 2010-05-05
Also published as: GB0918999D0

Abstract

A garment hanger 1 includes two adjustable hanger arms 5, 7 and a trouser bar part 3 comprising an elongate member 17 attached at each end to the hanger arms by two pivotably mounted connection members 25. The pivotable connections allow the arms to be adjusted while the trouser bar remains attached and may take the form of transverse rods or a living hinge. Further pivotable connections are provided in the trouser bar so that further trouser bars can be suspended below from the first trouser bar. Both the trouser bar and the connection members may have strengthening ribs 19, 21. An additional form of connection member may also be provided to removably connect or clip two adjacent clothes hangers together side by side to form a single hanger of increased width (figure 7 not shown). This connection member may have a U shaped cross section and may feature internal walls or protrusions to correctly position the connected hangers.

Description

GARMENT HANGER

This invention relates to a garment hanger. One aspect of the present invention concerns an adjustable garment hanger having a trouser bar and another aspect of the present invention concerns a garment hanger or hanger assembly having two substantially identical hanger parts which can be connected together, for example to provide a shoulder support. The two aspects may be used jointly or separately.

It is difficult to manufacture a garment hanger which is adjustable in width to suit different sizes of clothes while at the same time providing a trouser bar which supports a pair of trousers or the like beneath the major part of the garment hanger. A particular problem lies in providing a trouser bar which is adjustable in length with the remainder of the hanger and which has sufficient strength and rigidity to support a pair of trousers or the like without excessive flexing or even breakage.

It is also difficult to manufacture a garment hanger which is relatively thin so as to allow a user to fit a substantial number of clothes into a wardrobe, while at the same time providing a hanger which is sufficiently strong to support heavier clothes, such as a suit, and/or wider garments such as a coat or the like. A particular problem is that a relatively thin garment hanger tends to have insufficient strength to support heavier clothes or, especially when extended, wider garments which apply greater strains and stresses to the hanger than do smaller garments.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a garment hanger which overcomes, or at least ameliorates, at least one of the above problems.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a garment hanger comprising: a hanger part including a central portion and two arms which are movable to adjust the width of the hanger; and a trouser bar part including an elongate member having pivotably mounted at each end thereof a connecting member, each connecting member being pivotably mounted at one end thereof to the elongate member and at the other end thereof to a respective arm of the hanger part.

An outer region of each arm may be provided with a profiled aperture and the other end of each connecting member may be provided with a protrusion of complementary configuration to that of the aperture, whereby the protrusion is received and retained in the aperture.

An outer region of the elongate member may be provided with a profiled aperture for receiving a connecting member of a further trouser bar part, the said other end of the connecting member being provided with a protrusion of complementary configuration to that of the aperture, whereby the protrusion is received and retained in the aperture in the elongate member.

The profile of the aperture may be substantially circular with diametrically opposed lobes.

The or each elongate member may be deeper in a central region thereof than in outer regions thereof so as to reinforce the central region of the elongate member.

The or each elongate member may be provided with a rib which runs substantially around the periphery of the elongate member.

The or each elongate member may be provided with an upright rib in the central region thereof.

The elongate member may be pivotably connected to the respective connecting member by way of a transverse rod provided on one of the elongate member and the connecting member and a part cylindrical portion formed on the other of the elongate member and the connecting member and having an extent in excess of 180 degrees so as to be clipped to the rod. The rod may be provided on the elongate member and the part cylindrical portion may be provided on the connecting member.

Alternatively, the elongate member may be secured to each connecting member by way of a living hinge.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a garment hanger assembly comprising first and second garment hangers as hereinbefore defined, the hangers being positioned adjacent to each other, and a connecting member removably arranged at the outer ends of the first and second hangers and releasably connecting the hangers together.

The connecting members may increase the width of the garment hanger assembly compared with the width of the first and second hangers.

The connecting member may be clipped to the hangers.

The connecting member may have a substantially U-shaped cross-section. An outer end of the connecting member may be closed, for example by a downwardly extending portion.

A substantially central wall may extend substantially the entire length of the connecting member such that one of the hangers is received either side of the central wall. A protrusion may extend from each side of the central wall to prevent the connecting member being pushed too far onto the hangers. The protrusions may be staggered along the length of the central wall.

A plurality of clips may be provided for removably securing the connecting member to the hangers. The clips may each comprise a protrusion formed in a region of a lower edge of an outer wall of the connecting member and dimensioned to extend beneath the hangers. A plurality of clips may be provided on each outer wall.

The central wall may be provided with a plurality of laterally extending protrusions for urging the hangers towards outer walls of the connecting member.

According to further aspect of the present invention there is provided a garment hanger comprising: first and second substantially identical hanger parts positioned adjacent to each other; and a connecting member removably arranged at the outer ends of the first and second hanger parts and releasably connecting the hanger parts together.

Each hanger part may comprise a central portion and two arms which are movable to adjust the width of the hanger part.

The connecting members may increase the width of the garment hanger compared with the width of the hanger parts.

The connecting member may be clipped to the hanger parts.

A substantially central wall may extend substantially the entire length of the connecting member such that one of the hanger parts is received either side of the central wall. A protrusion may extend from each side of the central wall to prevent the connecting member being pushed too far onto the hanger parts.

The protrusions may be staggered along the length of the central wall.

A plurality of clips may be provided for removably securing the connecting member to the hanger parts. The clips may each comprise a protrusion formed in a region of a lower edge of an outer wall of the connecting member and dimensioned to extend beneath the hanger parts. A plurality of clips may be provided on each outer wall.

The central wall may be provided with a plurality of laterally extending protrusions for urging the hanger parts towards outer walls of the connecting member.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an elevational view of one embodiment of a garment hanger according to an aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the garment hanger shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevational view of an end region of a trouser bar forming part of the garment hanger shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 shows in more detail a hinge forming part of the trouser bar; Figure 5 shows in more detail an end region of a modified embodiment of the garment hanger shown in Figure 1; Figure 6 shows in more detail an attachment of the trouser bar to the remainder of the garment hanger; Figure 7 is a perspective view of one embodiment of part of a garment hanger according to another aspect of the present invention; Figure 8 is a view from below of part of the garment hanger of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a perspective view from above of a shoulder support member forming part of the garment hanger of Figures 7 and 8; and Figure 10 is a view from below of the shoulder support member shown in Figure 9.

The garment hanger shown in Figures 1 and 2 shows an adjustable garment hanger 1 of conventional design which is provided with a plurality of removable trouser bars 3.

For convenience the hanger 1 is shown without a hook, but any suitable hook, for example of metal or plastics material, can be provided. The hanger 1 includes two outwardly and downwardly extending arms 5, 7 which are adapted to support a garment, such as a shirt or a blouse. The arms 5, 7 are adjustable in known manner relative to a central region 9 of the hanger so as to facilitate adjustment of the width of the hanger to clothes of different sizes. In the outer region of each arm 5, 7 there is provided a profiled aperture 11, 13 having a substantially circular configuration with diametrically opposed outwardly extending lobes. The purpose of the aperture will be described in more detail hereinafter.

Figures 1 and 2 show three trouser bars 3, but any convenient number of trouser bars may be provided. Each trouser bar comprises a horizontal elongate member 17 which is slightly deeper in a central region than in outer regions thereof, so as to reinforce the central region of the bar. For example, as illustrated, each half of the bar may be substantially triangular in configuration.

The bar 17 is provided with a substantially peripheral rib 19 and with a central upright rib 21 to further strengthen the bar.

As best seen in Figures 3 and 4, each end of the horizontal member 17 includes a cylindrical rod 23 which extends transversely of the bar to act as part of a hinge. The trouser bar 3 also includes a connecting member 25 pivotally connected to the rod 23 at each end of the horizontal member. The connecting member 25 is provided at one end thereof with a part cylindrical portion 27 which extends a little in excess of 180 degrees and is resilient so as to be connectable to the rod 23 and to remain in place during use. The connecting member 25 is provided at the other end thereof with a generally cylindrical transverse protrusion 29 which is provided at the free end thereof with lobes 31 which pass through the aperture 11, 13, but in an in use configuration are displaced from the lobes of the apertures so as to prevent the connecting member 25 separating from the remainder of the hanger as can be seen, for example, in Figure 5.

The trouser bar 3 can be mounted on the remainder of the hanger for example either by connecting the connecting members 25 first to the arms 5, 7 and then connecting the horizontal member 17 to the connecting members 25, or by connecting the connecting members 25 first to the horizontal member 17 and then rotating one of the connecting members 25 to insert the protrusion 29 into one of the apertures 11, 13. The horizontal member 17 can then be moved in its longitudinal direction to allow the protrusions of the other connecting member to be inserted into the other of the apertures 11, 13 as shown in Figure 6.

Thereafter the horizontal member 17 is allowed to return to its normal position.

The horizontal member 17 is also provided in the region of each end thereof with apertures 33, 35 which correspond to the apertures 11, 13 in the arms 5, 7 to allow a further trouser bar 3 to be mounted below an upper trouser bar. In this way, any suitable number of trouser bars may be provided as part of the hanger.

However, if it is intended that only a single trouser bar 3 is to be provided, the apertures 33, 35 may be omitted as shown in Figure 5.

As an alternative to a separable hinge, a living hinge may be provided between the horizontal member and each of the connecting members.

The provision of the hinge arrangements between the trouser bar and the remainder of the hanger and between the horizontal member 17 and the connecting members 25 allows the arms 5, 7 to be moved outwardly and inwardly relative to the central region 9 of the garment hanger. Consequently, the width of the hanger can be adjusted to suit different sizes of clothes while at the same time providing a trouser bar of suitable dimensions. If the width of the hanger is adjusted, the connecting members 25 pivot relative to the horizontal member 17 and to the arms 5, 7 so as to move the horizontal member towards or away from the arms, but it is not necessary to remove the trouser bar from the remainder of the hanger.

The garment hanger shown in Figures 7 to 10 comprises two relatively thin garment hangers 51. For convenience the hangers are shown without hooks, but any suitable hook, for example of metal or plastics material, can be provided.

Each hanger includes two outwardly and downwardly extending arms 53 which are adapted to support a garment such as a shirt or a blouse. The arms are adjustable in known manner relative to a central region 57 of each hanger so as to facilitate adjustment of the width of the hanger to clothes of different sizes.

Relatively thin hangers allow users to fit more clothes into a wardrobe, but such hangers are unsatisfactory when used for suits and heavy, wide garments, such as coats.

The two hangers 51 are secured together in the region of the free ends of the arms of the hangers by a shoulder support 59 which is clipped to the outer ends of the hangers. The shoulder support 59 is useful in two respects. First, by clipping together two separate hangers, the resulting hanger is significantly stronger and therefore able to bear the weight of a suit, coat or the like. Second, the shoulder support is able to increase the overall width of the combined hangers, making the combination more suitable for wider garments such as jackets and coats. The shoulder supports therefore increase the flexibility of use of the hangers at relatively low cost.

In more detail, each shoulder support 59 is of substantially U-shaped cross-section with an outer end 61 that is closed by a downwardly extending portion and an inner end 63 that is open. A central wall 65 extends substantially the entire length of the support so that the arm of one hanger is received on either side of the central wall. A protrusion 67 extends from each side of the central wall and provides a stop to prevent the support 69 being pushed too far onto the arms 53, 55. The protrusions 67 may be staggered along the length of the central wall to allow for curvature of the hangers in the longitudinal direction of the arms.

A plurality of clips are provided by inwardly extending protrusions 69 formed in the region of the lower edge of each outer wall of the support, the protrusions being dimensioned to extend beneath the arms 53, 55 of the hangers 51. In the illustrated embodimentfour inwardly extending protrusions are provided, with two spaced protrusions being provided on each outer wall.

That part of the central wall 65 between the protrusions 67 and the inner end of the support may be provided with a plurality of laterally extending protrusions 71 having a lateral extent less than that of the protrusions 67. The lateral protrusions 71 serve to urged the arms 53, 55 of the hanger 51 towards the outer walls of the support 69 to ensure as far as possible that the protrusions 71 hold the support in place.

The support 69 is made of a flexible plastics material and is mounted on the hangers 51 and removed therefrom simply by flexing the support to the extent that is necessary.

The support 69 can be adapted for use with the hangers shown in Figures 1 to 7 by providing a curved recess 73 to allow access to the apertures 11, 13 of the hanger arms. -14-

Claims

CLAIMS1. A garment hanger comprising: a hanger part including a central portion and two arms which are movable to adjust the width of the hanger; and a trouser bar part including an elongate member having pivotably mounted at each end thereof a connecting member, each connecting member being pivotable mounted at one end thereof to the elongate member and at the other end thereof to a respective arm of the hanger part.
2. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein an outer region of each arm is provided with a profiled aperture and the other end of each connecting member is provided with a protrusion of complementary configuration to that of the aperture, whereby the protrusion is received and retained in the aperture.
3. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 2, wherein an outer region of the elongate member is provided with a profiled aperture for receiving a connecting member of a further trouser bar part, the said other end of the connecting member being provided with a protrusion of complementary configuration to that of the aperture, whereby the protrusion is received and retained in the aperture in the elongate member.
4. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the profile of the aperture is substantially circular with diametrically opposed lobes.
5. A garment hanger as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each elongate member is deeper in a central region thereof than in outer regions thereof so as to reinforce the central region of the elongate member.
6. A garment hanger as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each elongate member is provided with a rib which runs substantially around the periphery of the elongate member.
7. A garment hanger as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each elongate member is provided with an upright rib in the central region thereof.
8. A garment hanger as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the elongate member is pivotably connected to the respective connecting member by way of a transverse rod provided on one of the elongate member and the connecting member and a part cylindrical portion formed on the other of the elongate member and the connecting member and having an extent in excess of 180 degrees so as to be clipped to the rod.
9. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 8, wherein the rod is provided on the elongate member and the part cylindrical portion is provided on the connecting member.
10. A garment hanger as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the elongate member is secured to each connecting member by way of a living hinge.
11. A garment hanger substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures ito 6 of the accompanying drawings.
12. A garment hanger assembly comprising first and second garment hangers as claimed in any preceding claim, the hangers being positioned adjacent to each other, and a connecting member removably arranged at the outer ends of the first and second hangers and releasably connecting the hangers together.
13. An assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the connecting members increase the width of the garment hanger assembly compared with the width of the first and second hangers.
14. An assembly as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the connecting member is clipped to the hangers.
15. An assembly as claimed in claim 12, 13 or 14, wherein the connecting member has a substantially U-shaped cross-section.
16. An assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein an outer end of the connecting member is closed.
17. An assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein an outer end of the connecting member is closed by a downwardly extending portion.
18. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein a substantially central wall extends substantially the entire length of the connecting member such that one of the hangers is received either side of the central wall.
19. An assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein a protrusion extends from each side of the central wall to prevent the connecting member being pushed too far onto the hangers.
20. An assembly as claimed in claim 19, wherein the protrusions are staggered along the length of the central wall.
21. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 20, wherein a plurality of clips are provided for removably securing the connecting member to the hangers.
22. An assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein the clips each comprise a protrusion formed in a region of a lower edge of an outer wall of the connecting member and dimensioned to extend beneath the hangers.
23. An assembly as claimed in claim 22, wherein a plurality of clips are provided on each outer wall.
24. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 23, wherein the central wall is provided with a plurality of laterally extending protrusions for urging the hangers towards outer walls of the connecting member.
25. A garment hanger assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.
26. A garment hanger comprising: first and second substantially identical hanger parts positioned adjacent to each other; and a connecting member removably arranged at the outer ends of the first and second hanger parts and releasably connecting the hanger parts together.
27. A hanger as claimed in claim 26, wherein each hanger part comprises a central portion and two arms which are movable to adjust the width of the hanger part.
28. A hanger as claimed in claim 26 or 27, wherein the connecting members increase the width of the garment hanger compared with the width of the hanger parts.
29. A hanger as claimed in any one of claims 26 to 28, wherein the connecting member is clipped to the hanger parts.
30. A hanger as claimed in any one of claims 26 to 29, wherein the connecting member has a substantially U-shaped cross-section.
31. A hanger as claimed in claim 30, wherein an outer end of the connecting member is closed.
32. A hanger as claimed in claim 31, wherein an outer end of the connecting member is closed by a downwardly extending portion.
33. A hanger as claimed in anyone of claims 26to 32, wherein a substantially central wall extends substantially the entire length of the connecting member such that one of the hanger parts is received either side of the central wall.
34. A hanger as claimed in claim 33, wherein a protrusion extends from each side of the central wall to prevent the connecting member being pushed too far onto the hanger parts.
35. A hanger as claimed in claim 34, wherein the protrusions are staggered along the length of the central wall.

-20 -
36. A hanger as claimed in any one of claims 26 to 35, wherein a plurality of clips are provided for removably securing the connecting member to the hanger pa rts.
37. A hanger as claimed in claim 36, wherein the clips each comprise a protrusion formed in a region of a lower edge of an outer wall of the connecting member and dimensioned to extend beneath the hanger parts.
38. A hanger as claimed in claim 37, wherein a plurality of clips are provided on each outer wall.
39. A hanger as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 38, wherein the central wall is provided with a plurality of laterally extending protrusions for urging the hanger parts towards outer walls of the connecting member.
40. A garment hanger substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 7 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.