Adjustable Hanger with Size Calibration and Internal Support Device

Abstract

The present invention is a garment hanger for retaining a garment from the inside of the garment waistband. The garment hanger also has a calibrator for determining the size of the associated garment based on the position of the arms of the garment hanger.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application for a patent claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/721,901 as filed Sep. 30, 2005.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to clothes hangers, and more particularly, to clothes hangers having an adjustable support system and standardized size calibration.

2. Description of the Related Art

Clothing retailers have long suffered from the inconvenience associated with clamp-like hangers. Clamp-like hangers typically include two clamps or clips on separate ends of a rod or bar. An early example of such a garment hanger is evident in U.S. Pat. No. 648,534 to Seger. A hook is connected to the rod such that the rod is substantially balanced when the hook is hung on another rod, hook, or the like. Each of the clamps may be opened and then closed such that each holds an external portion of a garment by pinching the front and back waistband of the garment together hard enough to counteract the force of gravity.

Such hangers can be ideal for lower-body garments, such as for example, pants and skirts having a waist size of about 30 inches or less. However, if the waist size surpasses about 30 inches, a clothing over-hang develops causing the garment to droop and possibly fall off the hanger.

Adjusting the clamps on such hangers in an ideal position on the rod to which to properly hold the associated garment often is a frustrating exercise for both employees and consumers alike. As the clamps may slide on the rod, and as each waist size ideally has a different position of the clamps to properly balance and hold the associated garment, ensuring the correct positioning of the clamps can be trying.

Further frustration can occur as an individual tries to determine the size of a garment hanging on such a clamp-like hanger. Often times the garment is accidentally pulled from the hanger, whether partially or fully, and then the individual must fumble with re-hanging the garment.

Some commercially available hangers also include numbered and/or color coded identifiers; such identifiers meant to identify the size of an associated garment. However, use of such hangers assumes that customers and retailers hang a garment on a hanger having the correct identifier.

Thus, what is desired is a garment hanger that allows for simple adjustment to hold any size garment, and also permit easier access to determine the size of the respective garment.

SUMMARY

The various exemplary embodiments include a garment hanger comprised of an oblong body member, a first arm and a second arm, a cog, a locking mechanism, a calibration means, and a suspending means. The first arm and second arm are each connected inside the oblong body member on opposing sides, and arm having a gear teeth on a side of the arm closest to a center of the oblong body member. The cog has a gear design substantially matching and engaged with the gear teeth of the first arm and second arm, and located substantially in the center of the oblong body member between the first arm and second arm.

The various exemplary embodiments further include a method of supporting a garment. The method is comprised of placing a garment hanger inside the waistband of a garment, wherein the garment hanger is comprised of an oblong body member; a first arm and a second arm, each connected inside the oblong body member on opposing sides, and arm having a gear teeth on a side of the arm closest to a center of the oblong body member; a cog having an gear design substantially matching and engaged with the gear teeth of the first arm and second arm, located substantially in the center of the oblong body member between the first arm and second arm; a locking mechanism; a calibration means; and a suspending means. The first arm and second arm are moved away from the oblong body member in a synchronous movement such that the waist band contacts a first hand of the first arm and a second hand of the second arm. The locking mechanism is engaged, and the garment hanger is hanged via the suspending means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, which will become more apparent as the description proceeds, are described in the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which the first arm and second arm are extended.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a cog inside the oblong body member of the various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A through 4E illustrate various embodiments of the first hand and second hand.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of the first arm and second arm having opposite inclines of the inclined ratchet teeth.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the present garment hanging device 10 in which an oblong body member 20 is connected to a first arm 30 and a second arm 40 such that the first arm and the second arm are on opposing ends of the oblong body member. A suspending means 50 is preferably connected to the oblong body member at a point substantially central to the first arm and the second arm, and balances the ends of oblong body member. In a preferred embodiment, the suspending means is substantially perpendicular to the oblong body member. Examples of the suspending means include a hook, a loop, a strap, and the like.

Each of the first arm and the second arm extend into the oblong body member, preferably up to a distance of about just over half of the overall length of the oblong body member. It is preferred that the first arm and second arm overlap one another inside the oblong body member. Each of the first arm and the second arm may be comprised of metal, plastic, alloy, ceramic, or a combination thereof.

Each of the first arm and second arm may be substantially oblong in shape, for example, rectangular or cylindrical. Each arm includes a set of gear teeth 32 and 42. In a preferred embodiment, the gear teeth are on a side of the arm closest to the center of the oblong body member.

Substantially central in the oblong body member is a cam, gear, or cog 60, having a gear design 63 which substantially matches the gear teeth of each of the first arm and second arm. See FIG. 3. It is preferred that each of the gear teeth of the first arm and second arm correspond to and engage the gear design of the cog such that each of the first arm and second arm move on opposite sides of the cog within the oblong body member. It is preferred that the movement of the first arm and the second arm are synchronous.

In various exemplary embodiments, at least one of the first arm or second arm includes a set of ratchet inclined teeth 70 on a topside 35 of the respective arm. In another exemplary embodiment, the ratchet inclined teeth are on a bottom side of the respective arm. The set of ratchet inclined teeth corresponds to a locking mechanism 75. The locking mechanism includes one or more teeth for retaining the one or more arms in a desired locked position relative to the cog.

In another exemplary embodiment, both the first arm and the second arm include a set of ratchet inclined teeth, 70 and 71, respectively, on a topside 35 and 45, respectively, of each arm. In an alternative embodiment, ratchet inclined teeth may exist on a bottom side of one or more arms. In this embodiment, the set of ratchet inclined teeth of the first arm are opposite that of the set of ratchet inclined teeth of the second arm. See, FIG. 5. That is, the incline of the ratchet inclined teeth on the first arm is directed in an angle opposite that of the second arm. For example, if the incline of the ratchet inclined teeth on the first arm is about 45° relative to the oblong base member, the incline of the ratchet inclined teeth on the second arm is preferably about 135° relative to the oblong base member.

Further, in the exemplary embodiment in which the both the first arm and the second arm include a set of ratchet inclined teeth; the locking mechanism includes at least two teeth for retaining both the first arm and the second arm. In this embodiment, one of the at least two teeth will correspond to the incline of the ratchet inclined teeth of the first arm, and one of the at least two teeth will correspond to the incline of the ratchet inclined teeth of the second arm.

The locking mechanism may be a means of restricting the movement of the cog.

The locking mechanism may have a spring release such that upon release of the locking mechanism, that is, separating the one or more teeth from the one or more sets of ratchet inclined teeth, each of the first arm and second arm may move substantially equidistance to or from one another relative to the cog between them in the oblong body member. Upon engagement of the locking mechanism, that is, contacting the one or more teeth with the two or more sets of ratchet inclined teeth, each of the first arm, second arm, and cog substantially stop moving.

On the outer end of each arm, that is, the end furthest from the oblong body member, is a hand 80 and 90 for gripping and holding a garment. The hand may be molded or cast as one piece with the arm; it may be connected permanently; or it may be detachable.

The hand may be of any desired shape. In a preferred embodiment, the hand is shaped as shown in FIG. 4A having a hook-like shape 95 at the top, wherein the open portion of the hook is located towards the oblong body member. This hook-like shape may serve as a thumb rest to an individual. A bottom portion 91 of the same hand has a gentle slope away from the oblong body member and may include a knob 92 or an upward facing hook 93 at the lowest aspect of the bottom portion of the hand. See, for example, FIGS. 4B-4D. The bottom portion of the hand may include a spring-loaded expander 94 that provides further tension in a direction away from the oblong body member. See FIG. 4E.

In the various exemplary embodiments, the arm includes a stop at the end of the arm opposite the hand. The stop substantially prevents removal or disengagement of the arm from the oblong body member.

In various exemplary embodiments, one or more rubber pads (not shown) may be attached to an outside portion 96 of the hand to diminish loss of a supported garment.

In other various exemplary embodiments, a notch 97 may be located on the outside portion of the hand between the top portion and the bottom portion.

A garment may be supported and suspended by the present invention by positioning the oblong body member inside the waist of a lower-body garment. The first arm and second arm are then moved outwardly away from the oblong body member. See FIG. 2. The hand on each arm should come into contact with the inside waistband of lower-body garment. That is, rather than clamping down on the exterior waistband of a garment, the present invention contacts the waistband on the interior of the garment and pushes outwardly from the oblong body member. As each of the hands of the respective arms contact the inside of the garment, the arms are extended just far enough from the oblong body member that the hands and arms are able to support the associated garment based on tension against the garment in two points; the two points at which the hands contact the inside of the garment.

In a preferred embodiment, the hands contact the garment at the waistband and the hand is shaped and sloped outward such that the garment slides into a resting position such that the knob of the hand rests just below the waistband of the garment.

Once the arms and hands are extended to a position at which the associated garment may be supported, the locking mechanism is checked to ensure that it is in a closed position to substantially ensure that the arms do not move inward.

To remove the garment from the present hanger, the locking mechanism is opened to allow free movement of the arms and hand inward towards the oblong body member, thereby releasing the tension supporting the garment.

Various hands, examples of which are set forth above, may be used for varying lower-body garments, based on various styles, fashions, cuts, and the like. In addition, as desired, the present hanger may be used to stretch garments if a greater amount of tension is applied to the garment.

In the various exemplary embodiments, the first arm and second arm are substantially identical in length, and move in a synchronous motion governed by the cog. This synchronous movement allows for a calibration means 100.

In various exemplary embodiments, the calibration means of the various exemplary embodiments is a window in the oblong body member in which a letter, number, symbol, barcode, color, or a combination thereof, is shown as the first arm and second arm synchronously move away from or into the oblong body member. Such calibration allows for a greater degree of standardization in size, not only to the consumer, but also to the manufacturer and retailer.

For example, there are typically complaints by retailers and consumers alike that a particular waist size for one manufacturer is not identical to the allegedly same waist size of another manufacturer. The calibration means of the various exemplary embodiments herein obviates such concern, as the waist size represented in the calibration means will identify the actual waist size, despite the manufacturer, cut, style, etc. This also assists in obviating any question of mail or Internet purchases of lower-body clothing, as a calibrated standard may be shown and used by the retailer; thereby limiting returns to retailer for incorrect sizes.

In the various exemplary embodiments in which the calibration means illustrates a color spectrum related to size, customers and retailers may more easily identify the size being sought. For example, rather than looking for a “size 34” on many pairs of jeans, one could just look quickly for the color green in the calibration means. The color spectrum could also be represented from blues to greens to yellows to reds, with reds being the largest sizes, to identify greater health risks to the individual.

In other exemplary embodiments, the calibration means may be a letter, number, symbol, barcode, color, or a combination thereof visible on the arm. For example, as the arms are moved in and out of the oblong body member, a number closest to the oblong body member may identify the size of the associated garment.

A calibration means on the arms may further support size-integrity of a garment shown in a catalog or online, when, for example, a first hanger according to the present invention may be present in the waistband of the garment and the same or second hanger may be placed towards the lower portion of the same garment to show how the garment tapers, etc. Doing so allows for extrapolation of garment dimensions from the picture of the garment with the hanger.

In addition, a pressure-sensitive transmitter may be adapted for an individual hanger to provide retailers with point-of-contact information such as the number of times a particular pair of clothing is removed from the hanger, and assumingly, tried on by an individual. Further, such transmitter may identify when a garment is not replaced to the hanger, thereby raising prompt questions of theft.

Although the description herein describes the present invention in association with primarily lower-body garment, it should be understood that the hangers many also be used for upper-body garments such as shirts, coats, and the like.

While this invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the invention as set forth above are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A garment hanger comprised of:

an oblong body member;

a first arm and a second arm, each connected inside the oblong body member on opposing sides, and each arm having a gear teeth on a side of the arm closest to a center of the oblong body member;

a cog having an gear design substantially matching and engaged with the gear teeth of the first arm and second arm, located substantially in the center of the oblong body member between the first arm and second arm;

a locking mechanism;

a calibration means; and

a suspending means.

2. The garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein the suspending means selected from the group consisting of a hook, a loop, and a strap.

3. The garment hanger according to claim 1, where the first arm and second arm are each longer than half a length of the oblong body member.

4. The garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein one or both of the first arm and second arm include a set of inclined ratchet teeth on a topside or bottom side.

5. The garment hanger according to claim 4, wherein both the first arm and the second arm include a set of inclined ratchet teeth on a topside or bottom side such that the incline of the inclined ratchet teeth on the first arm is in an opposite direction as the incline of the inclined ratchet teeth on the second arm.

6. The garment hanger according to claim 5, wherein the locking mechanism includes two or more teeth corresponding to the inclined ratchet teeth for retaining the movement of the first arm and second arm, such that one of the at least two teeth will correspond to the incline of the ratchet inclined teeth of the first arm, and one of the at least two teeth will correspond to the incline of the ratchet inclined teeth of the second arm.

7. The garment hanger according to claim 4, wherein the locking mechanism includes one or more teeth corresponding to the inclined ratchet teeth for retaining the movement of the first arm and second arm.

8. The garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein the calibration means is a letter, number, symbol, barcode, color, or a combination thereof visible on at least one of the first arm or second arm.

9. The garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein the calibration means is a window in the oblong body member in which a letter, number, symbol, barcode, color, or a combination thereof, is shown corresponding to the position of the first arm and second arm relative to their synchronous movement relative to the oblong body member.

10. The garment hanger according to claim 1, where a first hand is connected to the first arm at an end of the first arm furthest from the oblong body member, and a second hand is connected to the second arm at an end of the second arm furthest from the oblong body member.

11. The garment hanger according to claim 10, wherein the first hand and the second hand include a hook-like shape at the top, wherein the open portion is located towards the oblong body member.

12. The garment hanger according to claim 10, wherein the first hand and second hand include a bottom portion that slopes in a direction away from the oblong body member.

13. The garment hanger according to claim 12, wherein the bottom portion of the first hand and second hand include a knob.

14. The garment hanger according to claim 10, wherein the first hand and second hand include a bottom portion having a spring-loaded expander.

15. The garment hanger according to claim 1, further comprised of a pressure-sensitive transmitter to identify when the arms of the hanger are moved such that a garment is removed from the garment hanger.

16. A method of supporting a garment, the method comprised of:

placing a garment hanger inside the waistband of a garment, the garment hanger being comprised of an oblong body member; a first arm and a second arm, each connected inside the oblong body member on opposing sides, and arm having a gear teeth on a side of the arm closest to a center of the oblong body member; a cog having an gear design substantially matching and engaged with the gear teeth of the first arm and second arm, located substantially in the center of the oblong body member between the first arm and second arm; a locking mechanism; a calibration means; and a suspending means;

moving the first arm and second arm away from the oblong body member in a synchronous movement such that the waist band contacts a first hand of the first arm and a second hand of the second arm;

engaging the locking mechanism; and

hanging the garment hanger via the suspending means.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein one or both of the first arm and second arm include a set of inclined ratchet teeth on a topside.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein both the first arm and the second arm include a set of inclined ratchet teeth on a topside such that the incline of the inclined ratchet teeth on the first arm is in an opposite direction as the incline of the inclined ratchet teeth on the second arm.

19. The garment hanger according to claim 18, wherein the locking mechanism includes two or more teeth corresponding to the inclined ratchet teeth for retaining the movement of the first arm and second arm, such that one of the at least two teeth will correspond to the incline of the ratchet inclined teeth of the first arm, and one of the at least two teeth will correspond to the incline of the ratchet inclined teeth of the second arm.

20. The garment hanger according to claim 16, wherein the calibration means is a letter, number, symbol, barcode, color, or a combination thereof visible on at least one of the first arm or second arm.

21. The garment hanger according to claim 16, wherein the calibration means is a window in the oblong body member in which a letter, number, symbol, barcode, color, or a combination thereof, is shown corresponding to the position of the first arm and second arm relative to their synchronous movement relative to the oblong body member.