GARMENT HANGER
A garment hanger including a hanger attachment means configured to attach the garment hanger to a hanging device. At least one strap extending from the hanger attachment means and a garment attachment means secured to an end portion of each strap. The garment attachment means configured to be removably attached to a garment.
This invention relates to an improved means for hanging a garment on a hanger while relieving the stress of the hanging weight of a garment on the hanger and preventing the garment from slipping off the hanger.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONHanger loops are usually attached to a garment at the junction of the underarm, sleeve and sideseam of the garment in order to relieve the stress of the hanging weight of a full dress or garment on the fabric by slipping the loop over a hanger. Hanger loops are also applied to garments where the neckline is too wide for a hanger, a single strap garment, a garment where there are thin straps or strapless garment in order to prevent the garment from slipping off the hanger and to relive the stress of the hanging weight of the garment on the fabric.
The hanger loop forms a continuous loop that begins and ends at the underarm seam. The loop can slide over a hanger and take all the hanging weight of the garment and put it on the loops, alleviating any weight from being carried by the bodice of the dress or garment, but short enough that the dress bodice or garment will just rest on the hanger.
There are many different types of hangers available on the market, which have various different characteristics, such as size and thickness. Because the length of the hanger loop is often predetermined when the garment is manufactured, the length of the hanger loop is not always sufficient so as to carry the entire weight of the garment when it is placed on a hanger.
As a result, a hanger loop that is too long or to short for a particular hanger can pull the garment fabric and cause wrinkles or puckering in the garment fabric. Typically, when the hanger loop is too long for the hanger, the fabric of the garment stretches because the entire weight of the garment is not transferred to the loops and bumps or pinched fabric form on the garment at the point where the garment is hung on the hanger. In this instance, the bumps or pinched fabric commonly occur on the shoulder of the garment.
Although in some cases, hanger loops may be effective for solving the problem of storing or displaying a garment on a hanger, hanger loops also pose problems when the garment is worn. Typically, the hanger loops do not lie flat within the garment when it is worn and often are exposed by slipping out through an opening of the garment. A common practice is for the wearer to permanently remove the hanger loops from the garment, tuck the loops into the garment or underneath a bra strap.
If the hanger loop is tucked within the garment or underneath a bra's strap, the hanger loop can slip out and become exposed; it can create a crease in the fabric or irritate the wearer's skin. If the hanger loop is permanently removed from the garment, it is then difficult to hang the garment on a hanger without putting stress on the fabric, or having the garment slip off the hanger.
Often when the hanger loop is removed, the garment is placed on a hanger that has a covering, such as velvet that holds the garment in place using friction, or clips are used to attach the garment to the hanger. These solutions, however, do not relieve the stress that a hanging garment places on the fabric and can leave a deformity such as indentation or puckering in the fabric where the garment is in contact with the hanger or the clip. Additionally, friction hangers and clips do not work well for strapless, single strap, thin strap garments or garments that have a wide opening such as a boat neck garment or an off the shoulder garment.
One solution to the hanger loops is to provide one loop at the back of the garment, just underneath or at the opening of a blouse or a dress. The single hanger loop, however also poses problems. It can get caught around a wearer's neck, head or face when putting on or removing the garment, and it can slip out of an opening of the garment so that it is exposed. If the single hanger loop is removed, the problem again arises as to how to effectively hang the garment without creating puckering or wrinkles in the fabric, stretching the fabric or having the garment continuously slip off the hanger and end up on the floor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONDisclosed herein are one or more inventions, the embodiments of which address the problems caused by hanger loops in garments. The garment hanger includes garment attachment means that are removably clipped or attached to a garment in order to hang the garment on a hanger. When a wearer wishes to wear the garment, the garment attachment means can be unclipped or unattached from the garment, permitting the garment to be worn without hanger loops and eliminating a need to tuck the hanger loops inside of the garment when it is worn or removing them completely. When the wearer wishes to re-hang the garment after use, the garment attachment means can be clipped or re-attached to a portion of the garment permitting the garment to hang on the hanger with the weight of the garment transferred to the straps of the garment hanger and prevent the garment from slipping off the hanger.
In one embodiment the garment hanger includes a hanger attachment means configured to attach the garment hanger to a hanging device, at least one garment strap extending in a downward direction from the hanger attachment means and a garment attachment means secured to an end portion of each garment strap, the garment attachment means configured to be removably attached to a garment.
In another embodiment according to principles of the invention, the garment hanger includes an adjustment means to adjust the length of the garment strap.
In another embodiment according to principles of the invention, the garment hanger includes two straps which extend in a downward direction from the hanger attachment means.
In another embodiment according to principles of the present invention the hanger attachment means is a loop that is secured to the straps.
In another embodiment according to principles of the present invention, the garment hanger includes hanger attachment means which are configured to attach the fastener to the hook of a hanging device.
In another embodiment according to principles of the present invention, the garment hanger includes a hanger attachment means that is configured to attach the garment to a horizontal bar.
In another embodiment according to principles of the present invention, the garment hanger includes a strap comprising a first end and a second end, the strap removably attached to a hanging device; and a garment attachment means secured to each of the first end and second end of the strap, the garment attachment means configured to be removably attached to a garment.
In another embodiment of the invention, the garment hanger has a strap that is looped over a hanger.
Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an implementation of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings:
The presently preferred embodiments according to principles of the present invention will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures. Although the presently preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with various technically preferred limitations, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.
Neoprene, Recycled Felt, Moleskin, Corduroy, Twill, Tweed, Poplin, Acrylic, Modal, Velour, combinations thereof or the like. The garment hanger (2) includes a strap (4), an adjustment means, (6) a garment attachment means (8) and a hanger attachment means (10). The garment attachment means (8) are removably attached to a portion of the garment, for example at the bodice of a dress or at the seam of an armhole. The adjustment means (6) are configured to increase or decrease the length of the strap (4). The garment hanger (2) can be removably secured to a hanger (12) via a hanger attachment means (10) which can be slipped over the hook (14) at the top portion of a hanger. The garment hanger (2) does not have to be secured to a hanger via a hanger attachment means (10), it can be draped (16) or looped/wound (18) around the hook of the hanger as shown in
In
The garment hanger can be removably attached to a portion of the hanger, for example at the hook or the hanger bar. In other embodiments of the invention, the garment hanger can be permanently affixed to a portion of the hanger.
While various embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A garment hanger comprising:
- a hanger attachment means configured to attach the garment hanger to a hanging device;
- at least two straps extending from the hanger attachment means; and
- a garment attachment means secured to an end portion of each strap, the garment attachment means configured to be removably attached to a garment,
- wherein, each strap further comprises an adjustment means configured to adjust the length of the strap.
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. The garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein the hanger attachment means is a loop that is secured to the straps.
5. The garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein the hanger attachment means is configured to attach the garment hanger to the hook of a hanging device.
6. The garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein the hanger attachment means is configured to attach the garment hanger to a lower bar of the hanging device.
7. A garment hanger comprising:
- a strap comprising a first end and a second end, the strap removably attached to a hanging device;
- a first adjustment means located towards the first end of the strap;
- a second adjustment means located towards the second end of the strap; and
- a garment attachment means secured to each of the first end and second end of the strap, the garment attachment means configured to be removably attached to a garment,
- wherein, each adjustment means is configured to adjust the length of the strap.
8. The garment hanger according to claim 7 wherein the strap is looped over a hanger.
9. A garment hanger comprising:
- a hanger attachment means configured to attach the garment hanger to a hanging device;
- at least one strap extending from the hanger attachment means; and
- a garment attachment means secured to an end portion of each strap, the garment attachment means configured to be removably attached to a garment;
- wherein, the strap includes at least two adjustment means, each adjustment means configured to adjust the length of the strap.
Type: Application
Filed: May 24, 2012
Publication Date: Nov 28, 2013
Inventors: Allison Sue Alley (Chicago, IL), Elizabeth S. Edwards (Chicago, IL)
Application Number: 13/479,941