Hanger

Abstract

Left-hand side and right-hand side retaining bodies 2 each have a pair of retaining portions that are disposed substantially in parallel in a bifurcated manner, and end points of the retaining portions are disposed so as to face each other. An upper end portion of a lower garment such as trousers is held between the bifurcated retaining portions, and the retaining portions are inserted through belt loop portions of a lower-body garment such as trousers, thus enabling the lower-body garment to be retained by the retaining bodies and thereby be hung. As a result, a lower-body garment such as trousers can be easily hung in a stable manner without wrinkles being formed therein.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-270175, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hanger, and particularly to a hanger on which a lower-body garment such as trousers or slacks can be appropriately hung.

2. Description of the Related Art Traditionally hangers have been designed to prevent wrinkles from being formed in trousers or the like, and to facilitate drying of clothes after they have been washed (for example, see JP-A No. 10-94472).

The above hanger has a structure in which a connecting portion and a retaining/supporting portion are formed so as to extend from a lower end of a hook portion substantially in the shape of an L-shaped configuration, and the retaining/supporting portion is formed by projecting a pair of retaining rods that are disposed in parallel so as to be separated from an end of the connecting portion. This hanger is entirely structured as one integral body formed by the bending of a metal wire or the like.

The above hanger is configured so that trousers can be hung by the insertion of the retaining/supporting portion of the hanger through a belt loop portion of the trousers.

Further, as a hanger on which trousers can be hung by engagement with a belt loop portion of the trousers, a hanger also exists in which U-shaped hooks are mounted at lower portions of opposite ends of the main body of the hanger and belt loop portions are hung on the hooks (for example, see JP-U No. 7-20949).

However, the conventional hangers described above still entail the following outstanding problems.

Specifically, a hanger disclosed in JP-A No. 10-94472 has a cantilever-supported structure in which a connecting portion and a retaining/supporting portion are formed so as to extend from a lower end of a hook portion substantially in the shape of an L-shaped configuration. Therefore, when trousers or the like are hung from the hanger, stability is inadequate, and the trousers or the like are displaced to one side or the other of the retaining/supporting portion. As a result, there has always been a danger of wrinkles being formed. Particularly, when the hanger is made with a metal wire, as a result of the weight of the trousers or the like, the end point of the retaining/supporting portion has tended to open downward, and there is also a strong possibility that trousers or the like may be displaced toward on an end point of the retaining/supporting portion.

Further, in a hanger disclosed in JP-U No. 7-20949, a member inserted through a belt loop portion is formed as a hook, and therefore, an upper central part of the trousers hangs down and the trousers lose shape and become visually undesirable. Further, when the trousers are hung down over a long period of time, there has been a danger that wrinkles may be formed due to the trousers losing shape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a hanger that can overcome the above-described drawbacks.

In order to solve the problems described above, the invention provides a hanger comprising: a base body having a hook portion provided in the center thereof; and a pair of retaining bodies, base ends of which are connected respectively to left-hand side and right-hand side portions of the base body, the retaining bodies each having a retaining portion that extends substantially in parallel in a bifurcated manner and that has a predetermined length so as to be insertable through a belt loop portion of a lower-body garment which includes a pair of trousers, end points of the left-hand side and right-hand side retaining portions being disposed so as to face each other, whereby the lower-body garment is retained by at the retaining bodies and is thus able to be hung.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a hanger according to a first embodiment of the present invention is used.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hanger according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the hanger according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of an anti-slip portion.

FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram showing another modified example of the anti-slip portion.

FIG. 4C is a schematic diagram showing still another modified example of the anti-slip portion.

FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the hanger.

FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram showing another modified example of the hanger.

FIG. 5C is a schematic diagram showing still another example of the hanger.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of a retaining body.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a hanger according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the hanger according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a hanger according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10A is a schematic diagram showing an example of the state in which the hanger according to the third embodiment is used.

FIG. 10B is a schematic diagram showing another example of the state in which the hanger according to the third embodiment is used.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing still another example of the state in which the hanger according to the third embodiment is used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a hanger comprising: a base body having a hook portion provided in the center thereof; and a pair of retaining bodies base ends of which are connected to left-hand side and right-hand side portions of the base body, the retaining bodies each having a retaining portion that extends substantially in parallel in a bifurcated manner and that has a predetermined length so as to be insertable through a belt loop portion of a lower-body garment such as a pair of trousers, end points of the left-hand side and right-hand side retaining portions being disposed so as to face each other, whereby the lower-body garment is retained by the retaining bodies and is thus able to be hung.

In the above-described structure, due to the retaining portion of a predetermined length being inserted through a belt loop portion of the trousers or the like, the trousers or the like can be naturally and stably hung without becoming creased in the middle thereof, or without being hung upside down or sliding to one side or other side of the hanger. Accordingly, the lower-body garment can be hung visually in a desirable manner, and there is no danger of wrinkles being formed, or of articles contained in pockets or the like falling out. Further, in addition to the normal methods of use, the hanger of the present invention can be used effectively for drying a garment after cleaning, thereby making it possible to prevent the formation of wrinkles as a result of washing.

In an example of a more concrete structure of the present hanger, the left-hand side and right-hand side retaining bodies are connected integrally to the base body, and can be provided at positions that are asymmetrical with respect to an imaginary center line passing through the hook portion and separated from the imaginary center line by respective predetermined distances.

Reasons are explained below why these retaining bodies are disposed at positions separated by respective predetermined distances from this imaginary center line passing through the hook portion so as to be provided at positions that are asymmetrical with respect to the imaginary center line. Firstly, when the trousers are about to be hung by the folds thereof, the belt loop portions are usually not located at positions that are symmetrical with respect to the center line. For this reason, when the retaining bodies are aligned with the belt loop portions respectively, the retaining bodies are each comfortably inserted through the corresponding belt loop portion, and the trousers can be hung in a well-balanced manner.

In addition, because the pair of retaining bodies are integrally connected to the base body, a hanger can be easily formed with synthetic resin or the like, and manufacturing costs of the hanger can be held down accordingly. Accordingly, even in cases when hangers need to be offered to customers free of charge at dry cleaning shops, clothing shops and the like, and pressures exerted on operating profits can be eliminated.

Alternatively, the base body, and the left-hand side and right-hand side retaining bodies may also be formed separately from each other.

In this case, a base end of each retaining body is desirably mounted so as to be movable with respect to the base body.

For example, as long as the retaining bodies can each be set at a desired position by providing the base body with a rail-like structure that allows the retaining bodies to be slidable, even when trousers with a different size are hung (in particular, when trousers with a greatly different waist size are hung), the above structure can readily be adapted to cope with any size.

The left-hand and right-hand retaining bodies can each be formed from two members that are disposed in parallel along an entire length of the retaining body, from a connecting portion of the base body to end point of the retaining body. However, these retaining bodies may each be formed into a substantially L-shaped configuration as viewed from the front side, that is comprised of a substantially vertical portion extending downward from the base end portion, and a substantially horizontal portion that is bent substantially in a horizontal direction with respect to the substantially vertical portion. Only the substantially horizontal portion may also be formed as a bifurcated retaining portion. According to the structure described above, it becomes easy to form the retaining bodies and the base body separately from each other, and to make the retaining bodies movable.

In the hanger described above, the retaining portion can be formed so as to have a function of preventing the retaining portion from slipping out of the belt loop portion.

Addition of an anti-slip function makes it possible to prevent a suspended lower-body garment from slipping off the hanger even when the hanger is jolted.

Several Structures can be considered to provide the anti-slip function: the end point of each retaining portion can be bent substantially in a U-shaped or L-shaped configuration; and the retaining portion itself can be inclined upward to the end point of the retaining portion.

Further, a holding function can be added to the retaining portion of each of the left-hand side and the right-hand side retaining bodies. The holding function may also be used to perform an anti-slip function. In concrete terms, a structure using a clip such as a clothes pin may also be used to perform a holding function. As long as a hanger having a holding function is used, even a lower-body garment with no belt loop portion can be hung without the garment being creased in the middle thereof or being hung upside down. In these circumstances, the lower-body garment can be hung in a manner similar to that in a case in which the retaining portion is inserted through the belt loop portion.

Moreover, the base body described above can be made to function as an upper-body garment retaining portion that can retain and hang an upper-body garment. In other words, not only lower-body garments, but also an upper-body garments such as a shirt or a jacket can be simultaneously hung on the same hanger.

When a retaining portion of at least one of the two retaining bodies described above is formed of a length so as to be insertable through a plurality of adjacent belt loop portions, there is no danger of the lower-body garment losing shape in such a way that the upper center of the lower-body garment sags downward. Moreover, the formation of wrinkles on the lower-body garment can be prevented to the maximum extent possible.

In the present embodiments, the lower-body garment to be hung is essentially concerned with those having belt loop portions. However, in these cases, the lower-body garment is not confined to trousers, slacks, jeans and the like, and may include skirts and the like. Further, as long as a holding function is added to the retaining body, a lower-body garment can be hung in a stable manner even when it is not fitted with a belt loop portion.

The embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described more specifically with reference to the attached drawings, wherein similar reference numerals refer to similar parts in all the drawings.

[First Embodiment]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a hanger according to a first embodiment of the present invention is used. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are a perspective view and a side view, respectively, of the hanger.

As illustrated in these drawings, a hanger A according to the present embodiment includes a base body 1 having a hook portion 11 in the center thereof, and a pair of retaining bodies 2, 2, base ends of which are connected to the left-hand side and the right-hand side portions of the base body 1. A lower-body garment B such as trousers or slacks can be hung by means of retention by retaining bodies 2, 2. In the present embodiment, the base body 1 with the hook portion 11, together with the retaining bodies 2, 2, are formed integrally with a synthetic resin material. The base body 1 has a triangular shape in which two side portions extending from the hook portion 11 are inclined downward and is formed as a hanging portion for an upper-body garment, which can readily retain and hang an upper-body garment C such as a shirt or a jacket without the garment losing its original shape.

In the structure described above, the retaining bodies 2, 2 each has a retaining portion 20 of a predetermined length, so as to be insertable through a belt loop portion B1 of the lower-body garment B, a retaining portion 20 that is bifurcated so that two separate parts extend substantially in parallel and thereby form a gap 20a (see FIGS. 2 and 3) capable of holding a lower-body garment, which gap is required for purposes of interposing a lower-body garment B such as trousers. Respective end points 21, 21 of the left-hand side and right-hand side retaining portions 20, 20 are disposed so as to face each other.

The retaining body 2 in the present embodiment is, as shown in FIG. 1, formed into a substantially L-shaped configuration as viewed from the front side, and includes a substantially vertical portion 2a that extends downward from a base end portion of the retaining body substantially in a vertical direction, and a substantially horizontal portion 2b of a predetermined length, that is bent substantially in a horizontal direction with respect to the substantially vertical portion 2a. Only the substantially horizontal portion 2b serves as a retaining portion.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1, the left-hand side and right-hand side retaining bodies 2, 2 connected integrally to the base body 1 are located at positions separated, by predetermined distance d1 and d2 respectively from an imaginary center line L, that passes through the hook portion 11 in a vertical direction. These retaining bodies are asymmetrical with respect to the imaginary center line L.

Thus, when a lower-body garment B such as trousers is about to be hung along the folds thereof, the positions of belt loop portions B1 are ordinarily not asymmetrical with respect to imaginary center line L. Accordingly, in a state in which ordinary trousers for gentlemen (a lower-body garment B) are hung along the folds thereof, the positions of the retaining portions 20, that can be readily inserted through belt loop portions B1, B1 (see FIG. 3) which overlap at the front side and at the back side each other and are located at positions of symmetry, are provided so that a predetermined distance d1 is set in a range of 18 to 22 cm and a predetermined distance d2 is set in a range of 6 to 10 cm. In the present embodiment, the overall length of base body 1 along a horizontal direction is 44 cm. Further, predetermined distance d1 is 20 cm and predetermined distance d2 is 8 cm.

In the structure of the present embodiment described above, the length of the substantially horizontal portion 2b is set appropriately in a predetermined range of 3 to 12 cm. Particularly, as indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, if the length of the substantially horizontal portion 2b in at least one of the two retaining bodies 2, 2 is set in the above defined range, that is, in a range of 3 to 12 cm, so as to be insertable through multiple adjacent belt loop portions B1, the lower garment B does not lose its original shape in such a manner on an upper central region thereof sags down, and thus it is possible to prevent formation of wrinkles to the maximum extent possible.

Further, the retaining portion 20 in the retaining body 2 is structured so as to have a function of preventing the retaining portion 20 from slipping out of the belt loop portion B1. In the present embodiment, a bent portion 22 (see FIG. 2) formed by bending the end point of the retaining portion 20 substantially into a substantially U-shaped or L-shaped configuration is provided as a portion for preventing the retaining portion 20 from slipping out of the belt loop portion B1. Accordingly, even if the hanger A is jolted, there is no danger of a lower-body garment B, hung from the hanger A, slipping off the hanger A.

As modified examples of an anti-slip portion, structures such as are shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C may be used. In FIG. 4A, a bent portion 23 formed by bending upward the end points of each retaining portion 20 is provided as the anti-slip portion. In FIG. 4B, the retaining portions 20 are each bent to be inclined upward to end points thereof, and the retaining portions 20 in their entirety are given a function of preventing the retaining portion 20 slipping out. Incidentally, in order to add the anti-slip function to the retaining portions 20 in their entirety, the retaining portions 20 may each be curved downward, as is shown in FIG. 4C.

In the modified examples shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C, the retaining portions 20, 20 are formed at positions that are symmetrical with respect to an imaginary center line L passing through the hook portion 11. However, in these structures as well, because the length of each retaining portion 20 is appropriately set, a lower garment B can be hung by inserting the retaining portions 20, 20 through the belt loop portions B1, respectively. Further, the base body 1 does not necessarily need to be formed into the shape of a triangle in which two side portions extending from the hook portion 11 are inclined downward, and as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the base body 1 may also be formed so that a portion thereof below the hook portion 11 extends in a horizontal direction.

In the above-described structure, while a lower-body garment B is positioned in the gap 20a for holding the lower-body garment by means of an appropriate gap formed between the bifurcated ends 21, 21 of each of the left-hand side and right-hand side retaining portions 20, 20, these retaining portions 20, 20 can easily be inserted through the belt loop portions B1, B1, respectively. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the lower garment B such as trousers can be naturally and stably hung in a balanced manner without being hung upside down, or without sliding to one side of the hanger or the other. Accordingly, there is no danger of wrinkles being formed on the lower-body garment B, or of articles contained in pockets or the like dropping out therefrom. In particular, retaining portion 20 has a predetermined length, and therefore, can be inserted through multiple adjacent belt loop portions B. There is accordingly no danger of the lower garment B losing its shape with the central region of lower garment B sagging down. Further, the bent portion 22 described above prevents the lower-body garment B from slipping off from the retaining portion 20.

Furthermore, a hanger A according to the present embodiment can be easily formed with a synthetic resin or the like, and manufacturing costs thereof can be held down accordingly. For this reason, for example, the hanger can be offered to customers free of charge at dry cleaning shops, clothing shops and the like. In these circumstances, as shown in FIG. 1, a shop name or the like can be displayed in an advertising display space 3 on the surface of base body 1.

As a modification of the present invention, in place of advertising display space 3, a hollow portion 4 can be formed so as to enable hanging of band-like accessories such as a necktie D or a belt E. In these circumstances, retaining positions can be separated by forming partition convex portions 40 at the bottom of hollow portion 4, as is shown in FIG. 5A. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5B, a groove portion 41 can be formed at the bottom of hollow portion 4 so as to store in the groove portion 41 moth proofing agents, moisture-proof agents or the like.

Further, a pocket portion 5 may also be formed, for example, so as to store moth proofing agents, moisture-proof agents or the like, as is shown in FIG. 5C.

The left-hand side and right-hand side retaining bodies 2, 2 in the present embodiment are each formed as a structure in which two bifurcated retaining portions 20, 20 project from a connecting portion 2c formed integrally with the base body 1, as shown in FIG. 2. However, a structure as shown in FIG. 6 may also be used, in which base-body connecting portions 2c′ are respectively formed on both side surfaces of the base body 1, and the retaining portion 20 is provided so as to extend from each of the base-body connecting portions 2c′.

[Second Embodiment]

FIG. 7 shows a hanger A according to the second embodiment. The hanger A according to the second embodiment basically has the same structure as that of the first embodiment, except in so far that base body 1, and the left-hand side and right-hand side retaining bodies 2, are formed as separate members.

In these circumstances, synthetic resins may be used as materials for the retaining bodies 2 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. However, metal materials, for example, wire coated with plastic, may also be used.

In the second embodiment as well, the modified examples illustrated in the first embodiment are also applicable.

Further, in a case, as in this embodiment in which the base body 1, and the left-hand side and right-hand side retaining bodies 2 are each formed as separate members, a base portion 25 of each retaining body 2 is desirably mounted so as to be movable with respect to base body 1, as shown in FIG. 8.

A structure is thus contemplated, in which the retaining bodies 2 are engaged with a rail member (not shown) formed in the base body 1, and the retaining bodies 2, 2 each can be set at a desired position on the rail member in such a manner as to be slidable in the horizontal direction. According to the structure thus formed, even if the size of a lower-body garment B such as trousers varies (particularly, even when a waist size of the lower-body garment varies greatly), lower garment B can be easily hung in an appropriate manner.

[Third Embodiment]

FIG. 9 shows a hanger A according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The hanger A according to the third embodiment basically has the same structure as that of the first embodiment, except in so far that a holding function has been added to the retaining portions 20 of each of left-hand side and right-hand side retaining bodies 2, as illustrated in FIG. 9.

In the structure including a holding function in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, a clip portion 27 is formed by using a clip structure such as a clothes pin, with a spring 26 interposed between the retaining portions 20, 20. As a result, the lower-body garment B is held tightly. In this case, the retaining bodies 2, 2 may be located at positions that are symmetrical with respect to the hook portion 11, or at least one of the retaining bodies 2, 2 may be provided so as to be movable with respect to the base body 1 in an horizontal direction.

When the lower garment B is hung by the retaining portions 20, 20 having a holding function as described above, if the retaining portions 20, 20 (each forming the clip portion 27) are inserted through the belt loop portion B1 as shown in FIG. 10A, more reliable hanging of the lower-body garment can be achieved. Moreover, the present embodiment, the holding function obtained by the clip portion 27 serves as the anti-slip function described above.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10B, the lower-body garment B can be held by enabling the clip portion 27 to hold the lower-body garment tightly over the belt loop portion B1 (from the outside) without allowing the retaining portion 20 (clip portion 27) to be inserted through the belt loop portion B1. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, a lower-body garment B to be hung is not necessarily limited to garments having a belt loop portion, and may also be applied to a garment like a skirt having no belt loop portion, as is shown in FIG. 11.

Claims

1. A hanger comprising:

a base body having a hook portion provided in the center thereof; and

a pair of retaining bodies, base ends of which are connected respectively to left-hand side and right-hand side portions of the base body, the retaining bodies each having a retaining portion that extends substantially in parallel in a bifurcated manner and that has a predetermined length so as to be insertable through a belt loop portion of a lower-body garment which includes a pair of trousers, end points of the left-hand side and right-hand side retaining portions being disposed so as to face each other,

whereby the lower-body garment is retained by at the retaining bodies and is thus able to be hung.

2. The hanger according to claim 1, wherein the left-hand side and right-hand side retaining bodies are connected integrally to the base body, and are provided at positions that are symmetrical with respect to an imaginary center line passing through the hook portion in such a manner as to be separated from the imaginary center line at respective predetermined distances.

3. The hanger according to claim 1, wherein the base body, and the left-hand side and right-hand side retaining bodies are formed as separate members, and respective base ends of the retaining bodies are each mounted so as to be movable with respect to the base body.

4. The hanger according to claim 1, wherein the left-hand side and right-hand side retaining bodies are each bent substantially in an L-shaped configuration, as viewed from a front side, and a portion of each retaining body extending from a bent portion to an end point of the retaining body is formed as the retaining portion.

5. The hanger according to claim 1, wherein the retaining portion has a function of preventing the retaining portion from slipping out from a belt loop portion.

6. The hanger according to claim 2, wherein the retaining portion has a function of preventing the retaining portion from slipping out from a belt loop portion.

7. The hanger according to claim 3, wherein the retaining portion has a function of preventing the retaining portion from slipping out from a belt loop portion.

8. The hanger according to claim 4, wherein the retaining portion has a function of preventing the retaining portion from slipping out from a belt loop portion.

9. The hanger according to claim 1, wherein a holding function is additionally imposed on the retaining portion of each of the left-hand side and right-hand side retaining bodies.

10. The hanger according to claim 2, wherein a holding function is additionally imposed on the retaining portion of each of the left-hand side and right-hand side retaining bodies.

11. The hanger according to claim 3, wherein a holding function is additionally imposed on the retaining portion of each of the left-hand side and right-hand side retaining bodies.

12. The hanger according to claim 4, wherein a holding function is additionally imposed on the retaining portion of each of the left-hand side and right-hand side retaining bodies.

13. The hanger according to claim 5, wherein a holding function is added to the retaining portion of each of the leftward and rightward retaining bodies.

14. The hanger according to claim 1, wherein the base body functions as an upper-body garment retaining portion that can retain and hang an upper-body garment.

15. The hanger according to claim 2, wherein the base body functions as an upper-body garment retaining portion that can retain and hang an upper-body garment.

16. The hanger according to claim 3, wherein the base body functions as an upper-body garment retaining portion that can retain and hang an upper-body garment.

17. The hanger according to claim 4, wherein the base body functions as an upper-body garment retaining portion that can retain and hang an upper-body garment.

18. The hanger according to claim 5, wherein the base body functions as an upper-body garment retaining portion that can retain and hang an upper-body garment.

19. The hanger according to claim 9, wherein the base body functions as an upper-body garment retaining portion that can retain and hang an upper-body garment.

20. The hanger according to claim 1, wherein the retaining portion of at least one of the two retaining bodies is formed of a length that enables it to be insertable through a plurality of adjacent belt loop portions.