ADJUSTABLE CLOTHES HANGER
An adjustable clothes hanger assembly is provided. The adjustable clothes hanger assembly has a substantially rigid frame with a pair of slanted rail segments that are in transverse relation to one another. The assembly also has a pair of shoulder segments, each shoulder segment slidably disposed on a corresponding rail segment. Each shoulder segment is slidable on the corresponding rail segment between a collapsed position and an at least partially extended position, providing adjustable hanger width.
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The present invention relates generally to garment hangers, and in particular, to adjustable clothes hangers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONGarment hangers such as clothes hangers allow hanging items of clothing to prevent wrinkles. A typical clothes hanger comprises a flat triangular shape with a hook at the top for hanging the clothes hanger (e.g., from a hanger bar in a closet). The triangular shape has a base and two fixed sides, wherein the two sides meet at the hook on top of the triangle. The fixed sides resemble human shoulders for hanging shirts, jackets, coats and the like.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one embodiment, the invention provides an adjustable clothes hanger assembly, comprising a substantially rigid frame comprising a pair of slanted rail segments that are in transverse relation to one another. The assembly further includes a pair of shoulder segments, each shoulder segment slidably disposed on a corresponding rail segment. Each shoulder segment is slidable on the corresponding rail segment between a collapsed position and an at least partially extended position, providing adjustable hanger width.
Each shoulder segment may include interlocking mechanisms for slidably and adjustably maintaining the shoulder segment on the corresponding rail segment. Each rail segment may comprise an elongate member; and each shoulder segment may have a U-shaped cross section sized to axially receive a corresponding rail segment, wherein the shoulder segment is slidabe along at least a portion of the length of the rail segment.
Each shoulder segment may comprise essentially parallel side walls and a top wall interconnecting the sidewalls, providing a U-shaped cross section, said interlocking mechanisms comprising pairs of opposing tabs extending inwardly from the walls of the shoulder segment. At least a portion of each rail segment is axially disposed in a corresponding shoulder segment, maintained by said walls and said tabs.
In another embodiment, the invention provides an adjustable clothes hanger assembly, comprising: a substantially rigid frame comprising a pair of slanted rail segments that are in transverse relation to one another and a pair of shoulder segments, each shoulder segment slidably disposed on a corresponding rail segment. Each shoulder segment and corresponding rail segment include interlocking mechanisms for slidably and adjustably maintaining the shoulder segment on the corresponding rail segment. Each shoulder segment is slidable on the corresponding rail segment between a collapsed position and an at least partially extended position, providing adjustable hanger width.
Each rail segment may comprise an elongate member and each shoulder segment may have a U-shaped cross section sized to axially receive a corresponding rail segment, wherein the shoulder segment is slidabe along at least a portion of the length of the rail segment. Each shoulder segment may comprise essentially parallel side walls and a top wall interconnecting the sidewalls, providing a U-shaped cross section, said interlocking mechanisms comprising pairs of opposing tabs extending inwardly from the walls of the shoulder segment. At least a portion of each rail segment is axially disposed in a corresponding shoulder segment, maintained by said walls and said tabs.
Each rail segment may comprise a supporting wall and a bisecting wall transverse to the supporting wall, providing an essentially T-shaped cross section, said interlocking mechanisms further comprising pairs of opposing protrusions extending outwardly from said bisecting wall. The pairs of opposing tabs and the pairs of opposing protrusions are located in an interlocking staggered pattern along the long axis of the shoulder segment and corresponding rail segment, respectively.
The pairs of opposing tabs and the pairs of opposing protrusions frictionally engage upon a shoulder segment being moved along a corresponding rail segment. Upon overcoming a friction threshold, the pairs of opposing tabs and the pairs of opposing protrusions move past one another to allow extending or collapsing a shoulder segment. The interlocking mechanisms may further provide multiple predetermined extension positions of the shoulder segment between collapsed and fully extended positions relative to said rail segment.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become understood with reference to the following description, appended claims and accompanying figures.
The present invention provides adjustable hanger assembly. One embodiment comprises a substantially rigid frame comprising a pair of slanted rail segments that are in transverse relation to one another. The assembly further includes a pair of shoulder segments, each shoulder segments slidably disposed on a corresponding rail segment. Each shoulder segment is slidable on the corresponding rail segment between a collapsed position and an at least partially extended position, providing adjustable hanger width.
Now also referring to
In one implementation, the shoulder segments 12 includes interlocking mechanisms for slidably and adjustably maintaining each shoulder segment 12 on a corresponding rail 13. Each rail 13 has a substantially T-shaped cross section (
Each shoulder segment 12 is essentially channel shaped with one closed end 12A (
Each shoulder segment 12 is slidably and axially disposed on a corresponding rail 13 (i.e., the shoulder segment 12 and corresponding rail segment 13 are disposed essentially along the long axis of each of the segments 12 and 13). The interlocking mechanisms comprise pairs of tabs 18 on each shoulder segment 12. Essentially, each shoulder segment 12 comprises substantially a slidable sleeve for a corresponding rail segment, wherein the shoulder segment can axially slide along at least a portion of the length of the rail segment between collapsed and extended positions.
On each shoulder segment 12, a distance D between the side walls 15 (
In another implementation, the interlocking mechanisms further comprise pairs of protrusions on each rail 13 that interlock with pairs of tabs on the corresponding shoulder segment 12. Each rail 13 has a substantially T-shaped cross section (
Referring to
Referring to
As shown in the detail in
As noted,
To adjust the position of the shoulder segment 12 on a rail 13, such as adjusting the shoulder segment 12 from collapsed position (
When the pulling force exceeds a friction threshold, the opposing tabs 18, move past a first pair of opposing protrusions 17 along the way and snap back into the space between the first pair and a next pair of opposing protrusions 17. In another implementation, when the pulling force exceeds a friction threshold, the opposing tabs 18 marginally bend around or over a first pair of opposing protrusions 17 and snap back, into the space between the first pair and a next pair of opposing protrusions 17. This can be repeated as desired for adjusting the position of the segment 12 relative to the rail 13.
Further, the tab pair 18-2 has been moved to the space between the third and fourth pairs of opposing protrusions 17-3, 17-4. The reverse process allows fully or partially collapsing each shoulder segment 12.
The slidable shoulder segments 12 are independently slidable, and allow adjusting the hanger 10 (providing adjustable hanger width) to accommodate clothing items of different sizes (e.g., jackets of different shoulder widths), to properly support the shapes of such clothing items.
For example,
The tabs 18 are made of flexible material such as plastics that can bend/flex around/over the protrusions 17. The protrusions 17 are more rigid than the tabs 18 and generally do not flex in relation to the tabs 18. In one example, all of the elements of the adjustable hanger assembly can comprise known thermoplastic polymer materials such as polypropylene (PP), or other known materials that have similar properties, or other known polymers such as engineering plastics or similar.
Using the three dimensional Cartesian axis x, y, z, in
In another example, H is less than h (
Though the present invention has been described with reference to certain versions thereof; however, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.
Claims
1. An adjustable clothes hanger assembly, comprising:
- a substantially rigid frame comprising a pair of slanted rail segments that are in transverse relation to one another;
- a pair of shoulder segments, each shoulder segment slidably disposed on a corresponding rail segment;
- wherein each shoulder segment is slidable on the corresponding rail segment between a collapsed position and an at least partially extended position, providing adjustable hanger width.
2. The adjustable clothes hanger assembly of claim 1 wherein each shoulder segment includes interlocking mechanisms for slidably and adjustably maintaining the shoulder segment on the corresponding rail segment.
3. The adjustable clothes hanger assembly of claim 2, wherein:
- each rail segment comprises an elongate member; and
- each shoulder segment has a U-shaped cross section sized to axially receive a corresponding rail segment, wherein the shoulder segment is slidabe along at least a portion of the length of the rail segment.
4. The adjustable clothes hanger assembly of claim 3, wherein:
- each shoulder segment comprises essentially parallel side walls and a top wall interconnecting the sidewalls, providing a U-shaped cross section, said interlocking mechanisms comprising pairs of opposing tabs extending inwardly from the walls of the shoulder segment.
5. The adjustable clothes hanger assembly of claim 4, wherein:
- at least a portion of each rail segment is axially disposed in a corresponding shoulder segment, maintained by said walls and said tabs.
6. An adjustable clothes hanger assembly, comprising:
- a substantially rigid frame comprising a pair of slanted rail segments that are in transverse relation to one another;
- a pair of shoulder segments, each shoulder segment slidably disposed on a corresponding rail segment;
- each shoulder segment and corresponding rail segment including interlocking mechanisms for slidably and adjustably maintaining the shoulder segment on the corresponding rail segment;
- wherein each shoulder segment is slidable on the corresponding rail segment between a collapsed position and an at least partially extended position, providing adjustable hanger width.
7. The adjustable clothes hanger assembly of claim 6, wherein:
- each rail segment comprises an elongate member; and
- each shoulder segment has a U-shaped cross section sized to axially receive a corresponding rail segment, wherein the shoulder segment is slidabe along at least a portion of the length of the rail segment.
8. The adjustable clothes hanger assembly of claim 7, wherein:
- each shoulder segment comprises essentially parallel side walls and a top wall interconnecting the sidewalls, providing a U-shaped cross section, said interlocking mechanisms comprising pairs of opposing tabs extending inwardly from the walls of the shoulder segment.
9. The adjustable clothes hanger assembly of claim 8, wherein:
- at least a portion of each rail segment is axially disposed in a corresponding shoulder segment, maintained by said walls and said tabs.
10. The adjustable clothes hanger assembly of claim 9, wherein:
- each rail segment comprises a supporting wall and a bisecting wall transverse to the supporting wall, providing an essentially T-shaped cross section, said interlocking mechanisms further comprising pairs of opposing protrusions extending outwardly from said bisecting wall.
11. The adjustable clothes hanger assembly of claim 10, wherein:
- the pairs of opposing tabs and the pairs of opposing protrusions are located in an interlocking staggered pattern along the long axis of the shoulder segment and corresponding rail segment, respectively.
12. The adjustable clothes hanger assembly of claim 10, wherein:
- the pairs of opposing tabs and the pairs of opposing protrusions frictionally engage upon a shoulder segment being moved along a corresponding rail segment.
13. The adjustable clothes hanger assembly of claim 10, wherein:
- upon overcoming a friction threshold, the pairs of opposing tabs and the pairs of opposing protrusions move past one another to allow extending or collapsing a shoulder segment.
14. The adjustable clothes hanger assembly of claim 11, wherein the interlocking mechanisms further provide multiple predetermined extension positions of the shoulder segment between collapsed and fully extended positions relative to said rail segment.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 20, 2009
Publication Date: May 26, 2011
Applicant: Thane International, Inc. (La Quinta, CA)
Inventor: Sladjana Tukulj-Popovic (Toronto, CA)
Application Number: 12/623,193
International Classification: A41D 27/22 (20060101);