Adjustable extension for a clothes hanger

Abstract

A bar or slide (12) is adapted to be movably mounted on each of the inclined arms (14) of a clothes hanger (16). The length of each slide is within the range of 4 to 10 inches. Each slide (12) has a longitudinally extending channel (18) for receiving the inclined arm (14) of the hanger (16) and two spaced apart snaps or clamps (20) disposed within the channel (18) for releasably holding the slide (12) in a selected position on the inclined hanger arm (14).

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

A claim is hereby made to the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/582,973 filed Jun. 28, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to clothes hangers and more particularly to extenders for attachment thereto.

Conventional wire or plastic coated clothes hangers can cause “hanger bumps”, i.e., raised distress marks in the shoulder area of garments. It is believed that these distress marks arise when the ends of the hanger do not extend far enough into the shoulder areas of the garment. In the past, paperboard and sponge rubber covers adapted to be mounted on the inclined arms of the hanger have been provided; however, these attachments did not effectively lengthen the hanger.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present adjustable extension for a clothes hanger basically comprises at least one bar or slide adapted to be movably mounted on an inclined arm of the clothes hanger. The slide is formed with a longitudinally extending channel for receiving the inclined arm of the hanger and with at least one snap or clamp disposed within the channel for releasably holding the slide in a selected position on the hanger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a pair of adjustable slides or extensions according to the present invention disposed in relatively retracted positions on a clothes hanger;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and particularly illustrates a snap or stop formed in the adjustable slide;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and particularly illustrates a typical configuration the adjustable slide spaced from the snap or stop;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the adjustable slides of FIG. 1 disposed in relatively extended positions on the clothes hanger;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of one of the adjustable slides mounted on a clothes hanger;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4 and particularly illustrates some of the features which the present adjustable extension may have; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the present adjustable slide.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As indicated in FIGS. 1-7, a preferred embodiment of the present adjustable extension, generally designated 10, comprises a bar or slide 12 adapted to be movably mounted on each of the inclined arms 14 of a clothes hanger 16. The length of each slide is within the range of 4 to 10 inches. Each slide 12 has a longitudinally extending channel 18 for receiving the inclined arm 14 of the hanger 16 and two spaced apart snaps or clamps 20 disposed within the channel 18 for releasably holding the slide 12 in a selected position on the inclined hanger arm 14.

Each slide 12 is provided with a generally rounded, longitudinally extending top portion 22 that has a notch 24 above each of the clamps 20. Each slide 12 is also provided with a pair of opposing walls 26 extending downwardly from the rounded top portion 22 in spaced relation to one another. A concave interior surface 28 of the top portion is sized and shaped to slidably receive the inclined hanger arm 14.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the clamps 20 comprises a pair of relatively opposing, spaced apart detents 30 projecting inwardly towards each other from the walls 26. Each of the detents 30 is formed with a rounded, hanger-engaging upper surface 32. The channel 18 adjacent to the concave interior surface 28 of the top portion 22 is slightly smaller than the diameter d of the hanger arm 14. In this manner, the present extension 10 is held in a selected position on the hanger arm 14. Opposing surfaces 34 of the detents 30 are tapered. The space between the detents 30 is less than one-third of the hanger arm diameter d at the juncture of the opposing surfaces 34 and the upper surfaces 32. In this manner, the present extension 10 is held on the hanger arm 14 even though the arm 14 may be bent, as illustrated in FIG. 6. The present slides or extensions 10, and all of the foregoing components thereof, are unitarily and integrally molded from synthetic resin material, preferably ABS plastic, and the walls 26 can be flexed outwardly to expand the channel 18 and the space between the detents 30 to receive the hanger arm 14.

As indicated in FIGS. 6 and 7, an upper end 36 of the present extension 10 is open and a lower end 38 is rounded and closed. The closed lower end 38 limits the upward or inward movement of the present extension 10 on the hanger arm 14.

As indicated in FIG. 4, the clamps 20 are positioned to limit the downward or outward movement of the extension 10. One of the clamps 20 is adjacent to the open end 36 and the two clamps 20 are spaced apart a distance within a range of 1.70 to 3.00 inches.

Claims

1. An adjustable extension for a clothes hanger having a pair of outwardly extending, inclined arms, said extension comprising: a slide adapted to be movably mounted on one of the inclined arms of the clothes hanger, said slide being formed with a longitudinally extending channel for receiving the inclined arm of the hanger and with at least one clamp disposed within the channel for releasably holding the slide in a selected position on the inclined arm.

2. The adjustable extension according to claim I wherein the extension comprises a pair of slides, each of said slides being adapted to be mounted on one of the inclined arms of the clothes hanger.

3. The adjustable extension according to claim 1, wherein the length of each slide is within a range of 4 to 10 inches.

4. The adjustable extension according to claim 1, wherein two of the clamps are disposed in spaced relation to one another within the channel of the slide.

5. The adjustable extension according to claim 1, wherein the slide is provided with a generally rounded, longitudinally extending top portion.

6. The adjustable extension according to claim 5, wherein a notch is provided in the rounded top portion above the clamp.

7. The adjustable extension according to claim 5, wherein a pair of opposing walls extend downwardly from the rounded top portion in spaced relation to one another.

8. The adjustable extension according to claim 5 wherein the top portion is provided with a concave interior surface, said interior surface being sized and shaped to slidably receive the inclined arm of the hanger.

9. The adjustable extension according to claim 7, wherein the clamp comprises a pair of relatively opposing, spaced apart detents projecting inwardly towards each other from the opposing walls.

10. The adjustable extension according to claim 9, wherein each of the detents is formed with a rounded, hanger-engaging upper surface.

11. The adjustable extension according to claim 10, wherein the inclined arm of the hanger has a diameter d, and the channel adjacent to the concave interior surface of the top portion is slightly smaller than said diameter d of the inclined arm.

12. The adjustable extension according to claim 11, the detents have tapered opposing surfaces.

13. The adjustable extension according to claim 12, wherein the space between the detents is less than one-third of the hanger arm diameter d at a juncture of the opposing surfaces and the upper surfaces 32.

14. The adjustable extension according to claim 1, wherein the slide is unitarily and integrally molded from synthetic resin material.

15. The adjustable extension according to claim 7, wherein the walls of the slide are outwardly flexible.

16. The adjustable extension according to claim 1, wherein the slide is provided with an open upper end.

17. The adjustable extension according to claim 1, wherein the slide is provided with a rounded and closed lower end.

18. The adjustable extension according to claim 16, wherein the slide is provided with a pair of spaced apart clamps, and wherein one of said clamps 20 is adjacent to the open end of the slide.

19. The adjustable extension according to claim 18, wherein said pair of clamps are spaced apart a distance a distance within a range of 1.70 to 3.00 inches.