Pants hanger

Abstract

Pants hanger with an elongate semi rigid pants hanging member, a centrally located standard closet pole hanging member, the pants hanging member having an approximately teardrop side section shape, the bottom of the teardrop shape forming a resilient elongate slit that can flex to accept the cuff portion of a pair of pants, the lead in portion of the slit having at least one outwardly flared edge, and the closet pole retaining member being centrally and fixedly attached to the upper portion of the elongate pants hanging member. A preferred embodiment includes the pants hanging member is molded from ABS plastic.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of clothes hangers and more specifically to a single pants hanger.

Devices for hanging a pair of pants have been in existence for many years and are well known. The most common pants hanger has a horizontally disposed hanging bar that is connected by at least one rigid elongate member to an inverted U shaped member that can be removably supported by a rigid horizontal rod that is mounted within a standard clothes closet. The most typical pants hangers are constructed of wire, wood or plastic and can double as a shirt hanger in that the elongate members and the attached hanging bar form a shallow triangular shape where a pair of pants can be folded over the hanging bar, and a shirt or jacket can be hung over the sloping elongate members.

There are some hanger designs available in the market that are specifically designed for pants only. These designs usually attempt to grasp the cuff portion of the pants so that the remainder of the pant hangs down vertically. These designs usually require a somewhat difficult two handed operation where a clamping member is lifted, the pant cuff is placed between the clamping member and a non movable member, and then the clamping member is forced down over the pant cuffs to retain the pants. These types of pant hangers save space in a closet in that, instead of each pair of pants being folded over a hanger bar forming a double layer, the clamping type pants hangers allow the pants to be hung in a single layer and thereby saving space in a closet.

However, there are several deficiencies in the prior technology. First, the crimping system described above tends to deform the pant material so that when the pant is removed from the hanger, there is an unwanted crease. Second, Many of the existing designs force the user to perform the pants hanging action while in the closet because the pants hanging members may be physically connected to each other and can not be removed one at a time. This can be inconvenient for the user. Finally, the current dedicated pants hanger designs tend to be difficult to use in that the user has to hold the pants with one hand, open the spring biased clamping bar with the other hand and then try to place the pant cuffs perfectly within the opened clamp before letting the damp close. This action requires a level of dexterity that some user's do not have.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide a single pants hanger device that allows the user to perform the hanging operation with a one handed sliding action.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pants hanger that does not crease the pants being hung.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pants hanger that saves room in a closet.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed pants hanger comprising: an elongate semi rigid pants hanging member, a centrally located standard closet pole hanging member, said pants hanging member having an approximately teardrop side section shape, the bottom of said teardrop shape forming a resilient elongate gap that can flex to accept the cuff portion of a pair of pants, the lead in portion of said gap having at least one outwardly flared edge, and said closet pole retaining member being centrally and fixedly attached to the upper portion of said elongate pants hanging member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a section view of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing how pants slide into the invention.

FIG. 5 is a first alternate end view of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a second alternate end view of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a third alternate end view of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the invention.

FIG. 9 is an end view of an alternate embodiment of the invention showing injection molded pieces attached to each other.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a fourth alternate embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a perspective view of the single pants hanger of the present invention 100. An elongate member 2 is made of semi rigid material such as ABS plastic. The plastic is extruded into an elongate shape that has an approximately tear drop section view as shown in FIG. 3. A standard question mark shaped pole hanger member 6 is centrally and fixedly attached to the upper portion of elongate member 2 by standard shank member 4 and standard rivet member 22 shown in FIG. 2. Flared lead in portions 12, 14, 16, 18 allow a person to slide in a pair of pants as shown in FIG. 4 without having to physically open the gap 20 with one hand. This makes the pants hanging operation much easier than with other existing pants hangers that require a person to physically open the jaws of the hanger with one hand while trying to place the pant cuffs in the proper position with the other hand. Additionally, existing pants hangers that hang pants by their cuffs tend to put a crease in the pants cuff over time. Because the present invention grips the pants firmly but lightly, 34. no crease occurs.

FIG. 2 shows an end view of the invention 100. The extruded ABS plastic shape 2 is approximately two and one quarter inches tall 32, and one and three quarters inches wide 34.

Elongate member 2 has a wall thickness of approximately sixty thousandths of an inch 36. The flared portions 16, 18 of the extrusion are created while the plastic is still hot as it exits the extrusion die. Pole hanging member 6 is fixedly attached to pants hanging member by standard means 22 such as a rivet, or screw.

FIG. 3 shows a section view of elongate member 2 as defined by section line 50 shown in FIG. 8. The extruded member 2 is approximately teardrop shaped in the preferred embodiment, but can be other shapes such as a D shape 200 shown in FIG. 5, a triangular shape 300 shown in FIG. 6 or a circular shape 400 shown in FIG. 7. Referring back to FIG. 3, The elongate edges of the extrusion 2 touch each other for most of the length of the extrusion 2. They are then flexed outward as a person slides in the cuff portion of a pair of pants. The resilient nature of ABS plastic allows the edges 20 to grip the pants cuffs firmly but lightly, leaving no crease line on the cuff when it is removed from the elongate member 2. An alternate material for making the elongate member is nylon, because of its resistance to forming a cold set over time when in the flexed position. Additionally, the elongate member may be injection molded from two elongate pieces and fixedly attached to each other 500 as shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 8 shows a bottom view of the elongate pants hanger portion 2 of the invention 100 where only one edge is flared 16, while the other edges 17, 19, 21 are not flared. The flared option is shown by dotted lines 12, 14, 18. In the preferred embodiment, all edges are flared. However, for simplicity of manufacture, only one edge 16 need be flared for the device 100 to perform its intended function.

FIG. 10 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention 600. In this embodiment the elongate extrusion 604 is joined to a standard hangar device 602. A vertical rod 606 attaches the center of the extrusion 604 to the center underside of the hanger 602. The extrusion 604 is also fixedly attached at each end 618, 610 to the underside of hanger member 602. A standard Question mark shaped wire form 608 is attached to the top of the hanger member 602 so that the hanger 600 can be hung on a standard closet hanger bar. In this way, the user can hang a garment such as a shirt or jacket and can also hang a pair of pants in the vertical position as explained in previous embodiments.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. pants hanger comprising:

an elongate semi rigid pants hanging member;

a centrally located standard closet pole hanging member;

said pants hanging member having an approximately teardrop side section shape;

the bottom of said teardrop shape forming a resilient elongate slit that can flex to accept the cuff portion of a pair of pants;

the lead in portion of said slit having at least one outwardly flared edge; and

said closet pole retaining member being centrally and fixedly attached to the upper portion of said elongate pants hanging member.

2. Pants hanger as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pants hanging member is molded from ABS plastic.

3. Pants hanger as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pants hanging member is approximately ten inches long.

4. Pants hanger as claimed in claim 1 wherein said teardrop side section shape is approximately two and one quarter inches tall and one and three quarter inches wide.

5. Pants hanger as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elongate pants hanger member has a wall thickness of approximately sixty thousandths of an inch.

6. Pants hanger as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pants hanger member is manufactured by an extrusion process and the said flair portion is formed while the plastic extrusion is still hot.

7. Pants hanger as claimed in claim 1 wherein an alternate embodiment includes said pants hanging extrusion fixedly attached to the underside of a standard clothes hanger device.