MANUAL TRANSPORATION OF ARTICLES

Abstract

A garment transportation and storage device comprises a support rod at the bottom, a hook at the top, and a ball-shaped handle between the support rod and the hook for transporting garments supported on the support rod by hangers and for engaging the hook with a support structure. An article transportation and storage device comprises an inverted U-shaped frame, a support rod slidably engageable with the frame, and a hook mounted on the frame for pivotal movement between extended and retracted positions. A garment receiving and supporting hanger is provided with an inflatable garment protection device that prevents wrinkling of garments supported by the hanger. A garment transportation and support device comprises opposed garment engaging arms that pivot outwardly to securely support a garment.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 11/368,873 filed Mar. 6, 2006, currently pending, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference; which claims priority based on provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/659,248 filed Mar. 7, 2005, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a clothes hanger comprising a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a clothes hanger comprising a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a clothes hanger comprising a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the clothes hanger of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a portion of the clothes hanger of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a garment transportation and storage device comprising a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a garment transportation and storage device comprising an alternative version of the third embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view further illustrating the garment transportation and storage device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a front view illustrating a first orientation of the garment transportation and storage device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a front view similar to FIG. 8 illustrating a second orientation of the garment transportation and storage device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a left side view of the garment transportation and storage device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a right side view of the garment transportation and storage device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic illustrating a first utilization of the garment transportation and storage device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a second utilisation of the garment transportation and storage device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a third utilization of the garment transportation and storage device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 16 is a front view of a clothes hanger comprising a fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 17 is a side view of the clothes hanger of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a front view of a garment transportation and storage device comprising a fifth embodiment of the invention in which the garment transportation and storage device is shown in its folded configuration;

FIG. 19 is a side view of the garment transportation and storage device of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a first utilization of the garment transportation and storage device of FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a second utilization of the garment transportation and storage device of FIG. 18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the Drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a clothes hanger 10 comprising a first embodiment of the invention. The clothes hanger 10 comprises a conventional clothes hanger 12 including a length of wire 14 comprising an upper hook portion 16 extending to a twisted portion 18 which in turn extends to a pair of downwardly and outwardly extending arms 20 terminating in support members 22. A cardboard garment support tube 24 extends between the support members 22 and is supported thereby,

As is well known, utilization of the hanger 10 and similar clothes hangers in the transportation and storage of garments incorporates inherent difficulties. First, the cardboard garment support tube 24 defines a relatively small diameter garment support surface which tends to form creases in garments supported thereon for even a short period of time. Second, the cardboard garment support tube 24 is frequently provided with a light adhesive coating which can damage delicate fabrics and can also damage more durable fabrics if supported on the clothes hanger 10 over an extended period of time.

In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention a soft sponge rubber tube 26 is received on and supported by the cardboard tube 24. The soft sponge rubber tube 26 substantially increases the effective diameter of the garment support surface of the hanger 10 thereby substantially decreasing the probability that garments supported thereon will be creased. Additionally, the soft sponge rubber tube 26 does not require a light adhesive coating as does the cardboard tube 24 thereby eliminating the possibility of damage to garments supported on the hanger 10 due to contact thereof with the light adhesive coating which is typically provided on the exterior surface on the cardboard tube 24.

For example, the cardboard garment support tube of a typical clothes hanger has an outside diameter of about ½ inch. The soft sponge rubber tube of the present invention has an outside diameter of about 1.25 inches. Thus, the effective diameter of the garment support surface of the hanger of the present invention is 2½ times as large as the effective diameter of the garment support surface of a conventional clothes hanger.

The soft sponge rubber tube 26 is provided with a radial slit 28 which extends the entire length of the tube 26 thereby facilitating deployment of the tube 26 over the cardboard tube 24. The opposite ends of the slit 28 comprising the tube 26 may be provided with, lengths of double sided adhesive tape 30 whereby the ends of the slit are secured against opening during utilization of the hanger 10.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a clothes hanger 40 comprising a variation of the clothes hanger 10 illustrated in the first sheet of drawings. Many of the component parts of the clothes hanger 40 are substantially identical in construction and function to component parts of the hanger 10. Such identical component parts are designated on the second sheet of drawings with the same reference numerals utilized above in the description of the clothes hanger 10 but are differentiated therefrom by means of a prime (′) designation.

The clothes hanger 40 differs from the clothes hanger 10 in that rather than being provided with a soft sponge rubber tube surrounding the cardboard tube 24′, the clothes hanger 40 is provided with a tube 42 comprising a roll of fabric secured in place by an adhesive layer 44. The function of the tube 42 is to substantially increase the effective diameter of the clothing support surface of the hanger 40. In this manner the likelihood that garments supported by the clothes hanger 40 will be creased during utilization thereof is substantially reduced. Additiona1ly, the tube 42 does not require use of a light adhesive coating as is frequently required in the use of the cardboard tube 24 thereby further diminishing the possibility of damage to garments supported by the clothes hanger 40.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 there is shown a clothes hanger 50 comprising a second embodiment of the invention. The clothes hanger 50 comprises a plastic frame 52 having a metal hook 54 extending upwardly therefrom. A metal support rod 56 extends between and is supported on the opposite ends of the plastic frame 52. A pair of wings 58 are supported on the support rod 56 for longitudinal movement therealong. Each wing 58 is provided with a spring loaded clip 60 which functions to secure the wing at a predetermined location along the support rod 56 depending upon the requirements of particular applications of the invention.

Because the wings 58 are movable inwardly and outwardly on the rod 56, the hanger 50 is adapted for use with garments comprising a wide range of sizes, for example, from size 2 through and including size 20. The inward and outward movement of the wings 53 allows the hanger 50 to support garments thereon with no tension or stretching.

In the utilisation of the hanger 50 the plastic wings 58 are moved outwardly until the end surfaces 62 thereof engage interior surfaces of a skirt, a pair of shorts, or other garment. In use, the wings 58 function to secure a garment on the hanger 50 during transportation and storage of the garment. More importantly, the wings 58 function to prevent damage to of the garment during transportation and support thereof on the hanger 50. The use of the hanger 50 facilitates support and transportation of garments with no marking, no clip mark, or other damage as is sometimes experienced in the use of conventional clothes hangers.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a garment transportation and storage device 70 comprising a third embodiment of the invention. The device 70 comprises length of wire 72 which is formed into a support hook 74 at the upper end thereof. The length of wire 72 extends downwardly from the hook 74 through a central portion 76. At the lower end of the device 70 a length of wire 77 is bent into a triangular configuration 78 thus providing a hanger support rod 80. The hook 74 is rotatably connected to the support rod 80.

A ball-shaped handle 82 is secured around the central section 76 of the length of wire 72, it being understood that other handle configurations can he utilised in the practice of the invention. The handle 82 may comprise a unitary construction formed from molded plastic or molded rubber. Alternatively, the handle 82 may comprise a two part construction which snaps together around the central portion 72 of the length of wire 72 as shown.

In use, the garment transportation and storage device 70 is employed to receive garments from a laundry or dry cleaner. Garments supported on conventional hangers of the type utilized by laundries and dry cleaners are supported on the support rod 80 by engaging the nooks of the hangers therewith in the conventional manner. After the hangers which support all of the garments received from a particular laundry or dry cleaner are engaged with the support rod 80 the handle 82 is utilized to transport the device 70 and the garments supported thereby, for example, from the laundry or dry cleaners to a vehicle. At that point the hook 74 of the device 70 is utilized to support the device 70 and the garments supported thereby from the coat hanger of the vehicle. Another important use of the device 70 is the transportation of garments supported on hangers from a laundry or dry cleaners to a residence in crowded urban areas such as New York City.

Upon arrival at a particular designation the device 70 is utilized to transport the garments supported by the support rod 80 to a storage location, for example, a closet. Once again the handle is utilized to facilitate lifting and carrying the garments supported on the support rod 80. The hook 72 may be utilized to support the garments on a closet rod or the like while the garments are being individually disengaged from the support rod 80. Thereafter the garments are preferably disengaged from the hangers utilized by the laundry or the dry cleaners to deliver garments to customers and are transferred to hangers comprising the present invention, for example, the hangers shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, inclusive, hereof.

Referring to FIGS. 7 through 16, inclusive, the present invention further comprises an alternative version of the garment transportation and storage device 70 illustrated in FIG. 6 and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. Referring to FIG. 7, an article transportation and storage device 86 comprises an inverted U-shaped frame 88 comprising spaced apart downwardly extending legs and a handle extending between and connecting the legs. Aligned apertures 90 extend through the distal ends of the legs. An article support rod 92 is slidably received in the apertures 90 for support by the frame 88. As is shown in FIG. 8 the rod 92 is adapted for disengagement from the frame 88 to facilitate its engagement with or disengagement from articles transported by the article transportation and storage device 86.

Referring to FIGS. 7 through 13, inclusive, the frame 88 of the article transportation and storage device 86 has a slot 94 formed in the upper portion thereof. A hook 96 is pivotally supported on the frame 88 and extends into the slot 94. Referring particularly to FIG. 9 the hook 96 is adapted for pivotal movement relative to the frame 88 in the manner indicated by the arrow 88. FIG. 10 shows the hook 96 in its fully retracted orientation to facilitate use of the handle comprising the U-shaped frame 88 in the transportation of articles. FIG. 8 illustrates the utilization of the hook 96 to support the article transportation and storage device 86 and articles supported thereby from a closet rod CR or similar structure.

FIG. 13 illustrates the use of the article transportation and storage device 86 in the transportation of a plurality of hanger-borne clothes from a first location such as a retail store, a dry cleaner, a laundry, etc. to a second location such as a residence, an office, or other location selected by the owner and user of the article transportation and storage device 86.

FIG. 14 illustrates the use of the article storage and transportation device 86 in the transportation of articles other than clothing. In particular, FIG. 14 illustrates the support and transportation of a pair of plastic bags which in turn support and transport a plurality of individual articles. The disengageability of the support rod 92 from the frame 88 of the article transportation and storage device 86 is particularly advantageous when engaging the device 86 with and disengaging the device 86 from articles such as those illustrated in FIG. 14. FIG. 15 illustrates the article transportation and storage device 86 utilized to support a plurality of hanger-borne articles from a closet rod CR or other structure.

FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate a clothes hanger 100 comprising a fourth embodiment of the invention. The upper portion of the clothes hanger 100 comprises a conventional plastic clothes hanger 102 which includes a plastic frame 104, a metal hook 106 adapted to support the clothes hanger 100 on a closet rod and a metal clothing support rod 108 extending between the opposed legs comprising the plastic frame 104.

An inflatable garment protecting device 110 is supported on the rod 108 and is provided, with an inflation/deflation port 112 including a stopper 114 adapted to retain the garment protection device 110 in its inflated configuration.

As is well known garments supported from a hanger, such as the hanger 102 illustrated in 16 and 17, for an extended period of time become wrinkled and misshapened. In accordance with the present invention the garment protection 110 is inflated by disengaging the stopper 114 and blowing through the port 112 until the garment protection device 110 assumes the inflated the configuration illustrated in FIG. 17. Thereafter the stopper 114 is re-engaged with the port 112 to prevent deflation of the garment protection device 110.

When inflated the garment protection device 110 functions to expand garments supported by the hanger 102. In this manner the garments are retained in an expanded condition which eliminates the problem of garments becoming wrinkled and misshapened when they are hung from a conventional hanger.

FIGS. 18 though 21, inclusive, illustrate a clothes hanger 120 comprising a fifth embodiment of the invention. The clothes hanger 120 comprises a pair of opposed arms 122 and 124 having proximal ends that are pivotally connected to one another at 126. The distal ends of the arms 122 and 124 are provided with garment engaging teeth 128. A metal support hook 130 extends to a connecting block 132. A pair of control arms 134 and 136 are pivotally connected to the block 132 at 138 and are pivotally connected to the arms 122 and 124, respectively, at 140 and 142, respectively.

FIG. 20 illustrates the garment transportation device 120 utilised to support and transport a garment G1 which may comprise a skirt or pair of slacks. The teeth 128 of the garment transportation device 120 engage the interior surfaces comprising the waist band WB of the garment G1. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art the weight of the garment G1 tends to pull the arms 122 at 124 downwardly. However, because the arms 122 and 124 are connected to the garment support member 130 by the block 132 and the arms 134 and 136 any downward movement of the arms 122 and 144 causes outward movement of the distal ends thereof thereby forcing the teeth 128 into firm griping engagement with the interior surface of the waistband WB of the garment G1. In this manner the garment G1 is firmly secured on the garment transportation device 120 during both transportation and storage thereof.

FIG. 21 illustrates the garment transportation device 120 utilized to transport and support a garment G2 comprising a jacket or a dress. Once again, the weight of the G2 tends to pull the arms 122 and 124 downwardly. However, because the arms 122 and 124 are secured to the garment support member 130 by the block 132 and the arms 134 and 136 any downward movement of the arms 122 and 124 caused by the weight of garment G2 causes the arms 122 and 124 to pivot outwardly thereby securely retaining the garment G2 on the garment transportation device 120.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. An article transportation and storage device comprising:

an inverted U-shape frame comprising spaced apart downwardly extending legs and an upper handle extending between and supporting the legs;

a pair of aligned apertures extending through the distal ends of the legs for receiving a support rod therein;

a support rod slidably receivable in the aligned apertures of the frame for securing articles to and disengaging articles from the transportation and storage device;

a longitudinally extending slot formed in the handle;

a hook extending into the slot formed in the handle;

means supporting the hook on the handle for pivotal movement relative thereto between an extended portion wherein the handle is engageable with a closet rod or the like to support the article transportation and storage device and articles secured thereto and a folded position wherein the hook is received in the slot to facilitate use of the handle in the transportation and storage of articles.

2. For use in conjunction with a conventional clothes hanger of the type comprising a nominally horizontally disposed garment support rod, the improvement comprising:

a pneumatically activated flexible member supported on the support rod of the hanger and extending downwardly therefrom for expanding garments supported by the hanger and thereby preventing wrinkling of the garments.

3. An article transportation and storage device comprising:

a pair of substantially horizontally disposed opposed arms having pivotally connected proximal ends extending in opposite directions;

each of the opposed having garment engaging teeth at the distal end thereof;

a normally vertically disposed hook positioned above and substantially aligned with the pivotal connection between the opposed arms; and

a lever system connected between the hook and the opposed arms for pivoting the arms upwardly and outwardly responsive to the application of weight thereto.