GARMENT HANGER APPARATUS

Abstract

A hanger apparatus may include a hook member made of a first material and including a hook portion and a hook member connection portion, and a body member made of a second material and including a body member connection portion flanked by support portions. The body member connection portion of the body member being releasably connectable to the hook member connection portion of the hook member.

Description

This application claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/747,423 entitled “SUSTAINABLE HANGER,” filed Oct. 18, 2018 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/700,677 entitled “SUSTAINABLE HANGER,” filed Jul. 19, 2018, which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is directed, in general, to a hanger apparatus for supporting articles of clothing.

BACKGROUND

Most plastic clothing hangers are not able to be sorted in a single sort recycling stream that is the most common current recycling method. Single sort, by definition, is when consumers put all types of recyclable goods into one large bin to be sorted later, by the county or recycling company. Curbside pick-up of these single sort recycling bins gets transported to a Material Recovery Facility (“MRF”) to go through a series of automated sorting machinery that separates the recyclables. During this automated sorting, plastic hangers are not properly separated by this automated machinery due to their flat size and long dimensions. Typically, the only plastics that are automatically separated are tubs and bottles. This results in the plastic hangers falling though the sorting method and straight into the landfill pile.

SUMMARY

These and other problems are generally solved or circumvented, and technical advantages are generally achieved, by advantageous embodiments of the present disclosure for an apparatus for hanging clothes.

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a hanger apparatus including a hook member (e.g., a unitary hook member) and a body member (e.g., a unitary body member). The unitary hook member is made of a first material and includes a hook portion integral with a hook member connection portion. The unitary body member is made of a second material (e.g., a recyclable material) and includes a body member connection portion, as well as support portions that, e.g., may flank the body member connection portion. The body member connection portion of the unitary body member is releasably connectable to the hook member connection portion of the unitary hook member.

Another and/or a related aspect of the present disclosure relates to a hanger apparatus including a hook member (e.g., a multi-piece hook member) and a body member (e.g., a unitary body member). The multi-piece hook member is collectively made of a first material and includes a first piece releasably connectable to a second piece. The first piece includes a first hook member connection portion and the second piece includes a hook portion integral with a second hook member connection portion. The hook portion is flanked by the first hook member connection portion and the second hook member connection portion. The unitary body member is made of a second material (e.g., a recyclable material) and includes a body member connection portion, as well as support portions that, e.g., may flank the body member connection portion. The body member connection portion of the unitary body member is releasably connectable to the first hook member connection portion and the second hook member connection portion of the multi-piece hook member.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter, which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures or processes for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a front isometric view and a back isometric view, respectively, of an embodiment of a hook member of a hanger apparatus according to the present disclosure.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C illustrate a front view, a right (or side) view, and a back view, respectively, of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a front isometric view and a back isometric view, respectively, of an embodiment of a hanger apparatus according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of another embodiment of a hanger apparatus according to the present disclosure.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a front view and a back isometric view, respectively, of another embodiment of a hanger apparatus according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 5C shows a front isometric view of a slight variation of the hanger apparatus of FIGS. 5A and 5B, with the hook member separate from (but releasably attachable to) the body member.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a front view and a back isometric view, respectively, of another embodiment of a hanger apparatus according to the present disclosure, which includes a multi-piece hook member.

FIG. 6C shows a front isometric view of a slight variation of the hanger apparatus of FIGS. 6A and 6B, with the hook member separate from (but releasably attachable to) the body member.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a front isometric view and a back isometric view, respectively, of another embodiment of a hanger apparatus according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 7C shows a front isometric view of a slight variation of the hanger apparatus of FIGS. 7A and 7B, with the hook member separate from (but releasably attachable to) the body member.

FIG. 8A illustrates a front isometric view of another embodiment of a hanger apparatus according to the present disclosure, which includes an adjustable clamping device on each support portion of a unitary body member of the hanger apparatus.

FIGS. 8B and 8C illustrate a side view and a front isometric view, respectively, of the adjustable clamping device from the hanger apparatus shown in FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exploded view of an embodiment of a hanger apparatus according to the present disclosure, with the body member shown separate from the hook member. This exploded view is similar to the front isometric view of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exploded view of an embodiment of a hanger apparatus according to the present disclosure, with the body member shown separate from the hook member. This exploded view is similar to the front isometric view of FIG. 8A.

Corresponding numerals and symbols in the different figures generally refer to corresponding parts unless otherwise indicated, and may not be redescribed in the interest of brevity after the first instance. The FIGUREs are drawn to illustrate the relevant aspects of exemplary embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The making and using of the present exemplary embodiments are discussed in detail below. It should be appreciated, however, that the embodiments provide many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the apparatus for hanging clothes. While the principles will be described in the environment of a hanging device for articles of clothing, any application for the hanger is well within the broad scope of the present disclosure.

Based on recycling difficulties, a hanger that is aesthetically similar to the current all-plastic hanger designs, but made of materials and/or in a style to be easily recycled though the current single sort recycling streams would be beneficial. There are all chipboard hangers that are currently on the market that are completely recyclable in both single-sort and multi-sort recycling streams. The drawback to these designs is that the hook portion of the chipboard hanger is much larger than a standard hanger, which is widely seen as a drawback in retail markets. Although it may seem obvious to redesign the chipboard hangers to have smaller hook portions, practically it is difficult to do so and retain the capability of the chipboard hanger to bear the appropriate weight of the article(s) of clothing to be hung therefrom. As a result, a hanger apparatus according to the present disclosure can be made from a combination of two (or more) releasably connectable portions combining together advantageous attributes of the existing single-piece, single-material designs. Alternatively, instead of both (all) portions of a hanger apparatus being passed through a single-sort recycling stream, at least one of the portions may be saved for direct reuse, e.g., by the end-user or an agent therefor.

For instance, a hanger apparatus according to the present disclosure may include a hook member made of a first material and a body member made of a second material that is recyclable. The hook member may include a hook portion and a hook member connection portion, and the body member may include a body member connection portion and support portions. In relatively symmetric hanger apparatus embodiments, the body member connection portion of the body member may be central and may be flanked on each side by the (two) support portions. In some embodiments, the hook member and body member may be unitary, each including only a single piece. In other embodiments, the body member may be unitary, but the hook member may be multi-piece (i.e., may include two or more pieces releasably connectable to each other). In still other embodiments, the hook member may be unitary, but the body member may be multi-piece. In still other embodiments, both the hook member and body member may be multi-piece.

Advantageously, the body member connection portion of the body member can be releasably connectable to the hook member connection portion of the hook member, e.g., to facilitate separation for recycling. Also advantageously, the first material may include from about 25 percent (“%”) to about 75% (e.g., from about 30% to about 70%, from about 35% to about 65%, from about 40% to about 60%, or from about 45% to about 55%) by volume of the hanger apparatus, and the second recyclable material may include from about 75% to about 25% (e.g., from about 70% to about 30%, from about 65% to about 35%, from about 60% to about 40%, or from about 55% to about 45%) by volume of the hanger apparatus. Although the first material may also be a recyclable material, in some cases (e.g., when the recyclable material is plastic and/or has a density below one gram/cubic centimeter (“g/cm³”), such as below 0.9 g/cm³), the first material (i.e., the hook portion) may nevertheless be screened by single-sort recycling processes to be placed into a landfill. In such cases, a significant proportion of the hanger apparatus according to the present disclosure (e.g., from about 25% to about 75%, from about 30% to about 70%, from about 35% to about 65%, from about 40% to about 60%, or from about 45% to about 55% by volume) may be recycled, as opposed to all-plastic hangers sent to the landfill.

In order for the body member of the hanger apparatus to be separable for recycling, the body member connection portion of the body member and the hook member connection portion of the hook member may collectively be releasably attached by means of one or more snap fit connections, one or more hooking connections, one or more tab and slot connections, one or more interference fit connections (e.g., buckle snap, button snap, or the like, or combinations thereof), one or more latching connections, one or more groove fit connections, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the releasable attachment between the connection portions of the body and hook members can be via one or more (e.g., two, three, four, etc.) snap fit connections. In some embodiments, the releasable attachment between the connection portions of the body and hook members can be via one or more (e.g., one, two, three, four, etc.) hooking connections. In some embodiments, the releasable attachment between the connection portions of the body and hook members can be via one or more (e.g., two) latching or groove fit connections.

In order for the hanger apparatus to operably support one or more articles of clothing when hanging, the releasable connections should be robust enough to stay connected when the one or more articles of clothing, e.g., as supported by the support portions of the body member, have a weight of up to about 10 pounds or about 4.5 kilograms (“kg”) (such as up to about 8 pounds or about 3.6 kg, up to about 7 pounds or about 3.2 kg, up to about 6 pounds or about 2.7 kg, up to about 5 pounds or about 2.3 kg, up to about 4 pounds or about 1.8 kg, up to about 3 pounds or about 1.4 kg, or up to about 2 pounds or about 0.9 kg), as needed.

In some embodiments, the second material (recyclable) may include, consist essentially of, or be chipboard, fiberboard, pressboard, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the second material (recyclable) may include, consist essentially of, or be compressed wood pulp and/or paper pulp. In some embodiments, the second material (recyclable) may additionally include fibers, such as but not limited to those made from hemp, cotton, wool, nonwoven materials, textiles, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the first material is also recyclable. In some embodiments, the first material may include, consist essentially of, or be, a polymeric or copolymeric material, such as but not limited to a polyacrylate, a polyolefin, an at least partially halogenated polyolefin, a polymer having an aromatic group in its repeat unit(s), a polyester, a polyamide, a polyurethane, a polyurea, a polyether, or a blend and/or copolymer thereof. For example, the first material may include, consist essentially of, or be an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, a poly(ethylene terephthalate) polymer or copolymer, a polypropylene polymer or copolymer, a polyethylene polymer or copolymer, a poly(vinyl chloride) polymer or copolymer, a polystyrene polymer or copolymer, a poly(methyl methacrylate) polymer or copolymer, a nylon polymer or copolymer, or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, at least one of (e.g., each of) the support portions of the body member may include an adjustable clamping device for releasably holding (or grabbing) a portion of the one or more articles of clothing supported thereby.

As mentioned above, in some embodiments, the hook member is a multi-piece hook member instead of being unitary (single-piece). In some such embodiments, the hook member may include two pieces, a first piece and a second piece. In those two-piece hook member embodiments, the first piece of the hook member may include one of the two hook member connection portions and the second piece of the hook member may include the hook portion integral with another of the two hook member connection portions. Although multi-piece (or, in this case, two-piece), the hook member first piece may be releasably connectable to the hook member second piece, e.g., by any practical releasable connection mechanism, such as those mentioned herein. In some multi-piece hook member embodiments, the body member connection portion of the body member is released from its connection to the hook member connection portion of the hook member only by first disconnecting the first piece from the second piece of the multi-piece hook member.

FIGS. 1A-1B show front and back isometric views of an exemplary hook member 10. The hook member 10 is unitary (single-piece) and includes a hook portion 20 and a hook member connection portion such as a central hook member connection portion 30. In FIGS. 1A-1B, two connections (e.g., snap fit connections) 32, 34 are shown on the left and right portions of the hook member connection portion 30. A connection channel 37, located between a front face 38 and a rear face 39 of the hook member connection portion 30, is available for facilitating releasably connection between the hook member 10 and a body member (not shown). It should be understood that the body member (not shown) would thus include corresponding features (also not shown) that enable the connections 32, 34 to releasably connect these two members of a hanger apparatus according to the disclosure.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C show front, right (or side), and back views of the hook member 10 from FIGS. 1A-1B. FIGS. 2A and 2B also include some measurements of height (about 12.5 centimeters (“cm”) or about 4.9 inches (“in”)), width (about 11.4 cm or about 4.5 in), and thickness (about 8.5 millimeters (“mm”) or about 0.33 in) for some embodiments of the hook member 10.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show front and back isometric views of a hanger apparatus 100 according to the present disclosure. The hanger apparatus 100 includes a (in this case, a unitary) hook member 10 (which may be identical, or merely similar, hook member 10 from FIGS. 1A-1B and 2A-2C) (releasably) attached to a unitary body member 50. The hook member 10 of FIGS. 3A-3B is unitary (single-piece) and includes a hook portion 20 and a hook member connection portion such as a central hook member connection portion 30. The hook member connection portion 30 includes two connections 32, 34 shown on the left and right portions, respectively. The body member 50 is unitary (single-piece) and includes body member connection portion such as a central body member connection portion 60 flanked by two support portions 70. A front face 38 of the hook member connection portion 30 is shown in FIG. 3A, and a rear lip 39 of the hook member connection portion 30 is shown in FIG. 3B. The two connections 32, 34, which may individually or each be snap fit connections, hooking connections, or latching connections, are available for facilitating releasably connection between the hook member 10 and the body member 50. The body member connection portion 60 of the body member 50 includes corresponding features (e.g., openings, aperture or holes) 62, 64, into and/or through which portions of the two connections 32, 34, respectively, extend so as to enable releasable connection between the hook member 10 and the body member 50 of the hanger apparatus 100. While the body member 50 is illustrated as a single piece, a multi-piece body member may also be employed as the application dictates. For instance, the support portions 70 may be releasably connected to the body member connection portion 60 of the body member 50 by one or more of the connections as described herein.

Without meaning to be bound by theory, one aspect of success for a connection may involve the existence of an upper portion 65 of the body member connection portion 60 of the body member 50 above corresponding features 62, 64 into/through which a portion of the connections 32, 34 may extend (e.g., for snap fit and/or latching connections) and/or via which a portion of the connections 32, 34 may support (e.g., for hooking and/or latching connections), thereby enabling releasable connection therebetween. Though the exact form of the connections 32, 34 and the corresponding features 62, 64 may depend upon the type of connections (e.g., snap fit, hooking, or latching), it should be clear to a skilled artisan from FIG. 3B how these connections 32, 34 and corresponding features 62, 64 interact to render the hook member 10 and the body member 50 releasably connectable.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of an alternative embodiment of a hanger apparatus 100 according to the present disclosure, in which there are three connections (e.g., snap-fit connections) 32, 34, 36 between the hook member connection portion 30 of the hook member 10 and the body member connection portion 60 of the body member 50. It is expressly contemplated that, although the connection such as a snap fit connection 36 is shown as being central, such that the three connections are symmetrical with respect to a left-to-right center of mass of the hanger apparatus 100 in the plane of the drawing shown FIG. 4, other symmetric and/or asymmetric connection arrangements are possible and envisioned according to the present disclosure. This observation concerning symmetry and/or asymmetry of the arrangement of connections between hook member 10 and body member 50 in hanger apparatus 100 according to the present disclosure is further contemplated and envisioned with respect to all other drawings besides FIG. 4 as well.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show a front and back isometric view of another embodiment of a hanger apparatus 100 according to the present disclosure, in which an alternative connection mechanism is used to releasably connect the hook member connection portion 30 of the hook member 10 and the body member connection portion 60 of the body member 50. In FIGS. 5A-5B, two connections 32, 34 are shown on the left and right sides of the hook member connection portion 30 of the hook member 10. These two connections 32, 34 each include a solid bar (one of which can be seen on the rotated hanger apparatus 100 as engaging with a groove 67 in the body member connection portion 60 of the body member 50 in the back isometric view of FIG. 5B) integrally connecting the front face 38 and rear face 39 of the hook member connection portion 30 of the hook member 10 and defining a bound of a connection channel (visible but not itemized in FIG. 5B, due to the presence of a portion of the body member 50 therewithin), which is similar to the connection channel 37 shown in FIGS. 1A-1B and 2B. In FIGS. 5A-5B, protrusions 61, 63 of the body member connection portion 60 of the body member 50 are shown as extending through the connection channels between the front face 38 and rear face 39 of the hook member connection portion 30 of the hook member 10 and further defined by the solid bars of connections 32, 34. The solid bars of connections 32, 34 are shown to sit within grooves 65, 67 below protrusions 61, 63 of the body member connection portion 60 of body member 50, thereby creating a releasable (e.g., interference and/or groove fit) connection between the hook member 10 and body member 50.

FIG. 5C shows a front isometric view of a slight variation of the hanger apparatus 100 of FIGS. 5A and 5B, with the hook member 10 separate from (but releasably attachable to) the body member 50 (which, when attached, forms the hanger apparatus 100). In FIG. 5C, the front face 38 may be featureless, e.g., allowing for branding or a logo to be imposed (such as by embossing, adhesion, and/or overlay) thereon (designated 27). (See, also, FIGS. 6A and 7A.) FIG. 5C also includes a clip 28 on the hook member 10 that provides another feature for branding and/or information about a garment handing on the hanging apparatus 100. (See, also, FIGS. 1A, 2A, 2C, 3A, 4, 6C and 7C.)

FIGS. 6A and 6B show a front view and a back isometric view of another embodiment of a hanger apparatus 100 according to the present disclosure, which includes a multi-piece (in this case, two-piece) hook member 110. The hook member 110 in FIGS. 6A-6B includes two pieces, a first piece 112 and a second piece 114, although more than two pieces are alternatively contemplated and envisioned. The first piece 112 of the hook member 110 includes one of the multiple (in this case, two) hook member connection portions (a first hook member connection portion 130) and the second piece 114 of the hook member 110 includes the hook portion 120 integral with an (the) other of the multiple (two) connection portions (a second hook member connection portion 131). The first piece 112 is shown as being releasably connectable to the second piece 114 via a single snap fit connection, with a (female) connector 133 on the first piece 112 releasably mating with a (male) connector 135 on the second piece 114. Nevertheless, it should be understood that both multiple connections within the hook member 110 and other types of connections (besides snap fit connections, such as those described herein) are both contemplated and envisioned.

In FIGS. 6A-6B, protrusions 61, 63 of the body member connection portion 60 of the body member 50 are shown as extending through the connection channels 137 between the front face 138 and rear face 139 of the first and second hook member connection portions 130, 131 of the hook member 110 and further defined by the solid bars of connections 132, 134. The solid bars of connections 132, 134 are shown to sit within grooves 65, 67 below protrusions 61, 63 of the body member connection portion 60 of body member 50, thereby creating a releasable (e.g., groove and/or latching fit) connection between the hook member 110 and the body member 50, which, in this embodiment, are only releasable by first disconnecting the first piece 112 from the second piece 114 of the hook member 110.

FIG. 6C shows a front isometric view of a slight variation of the hanger apparatus 100 of FIGS. 6A and 6B, with the hook member 110 separate from (but releasably attachable to) the body member 50 (which, when attached, forms the hanger apparatus 100). In FIG. 6C, the front face 138 may be featureless, e.g., allowing for branding or a logo to be imposed (such as by embossing, adhesion, and/or overlay) thereon (designated 27). (See, also, FIGS. 5A and 7A.) FIG. 6C also includes a clip 28 on the hook member 110 that provides another feature for branding and/or information about a garment handing on the hanging apparatus 100. (See, also, FIGS. 1A, 2A, 2C, 3A, 4, 5C and 7C.)

FIGS. 7A and 7B show a front and back isometric view of another embodiment of a hanger apparatus 100 according to the present disclosure, in which an alternative connection mechanism is used to releasably connect the hook member connection portion 30 of the (in this case, a unitary) hook member 10 and the body member connection portion 60 of the in this case, a unitary) body member 50. In FIG. 7A, the front face 38 may be featureless, e.g., allowing for branding or a logo to be imposed (such as by embossing, adhesion, and/or overlay) thereon. In FIG. 7B, three connections 32, 34, 36 are shown on the left, right, and center of the rear face 39 of the hook member connection portion 30 of the hook member 10. The left and right connections 32, 34 each include a series of snap fit connectors, and the body member connector portion 60 of the body member 50 include corresponding features (e.g., openings, aperture or holes) 62, 64, thereby creating an adjustable snap fit connection. The central connector 36 of the hook member connection portion 30 of the hook member 10 may be releasably connected from its corresponding feature 66 of the body member connection portion 60 of the body member 50, via a snap fit connection. Nevertheless, it should be understood that both more or fewer than three connections on the hook member connection portion 30 of the hook member 10 and other types of connections (such as those described herein) are both contemplated and envisioned here.

FIG. 7C shows a front isometric view of a slight variation of the hanger apparatus 100 of FIGS. 7A and 7B, with the hook member 10 separate from (but releasably attachable to) the body member 50 (which, when attached, forms the hanger apparatus 100). In FIG. 7C, the front face 38 may be featureless, e.g., allowing for branding or a logo to be imposed (such as by embossing, adhesion, and/or overlay) thereon (designated 27). (See, also, FIGS. 5C and 6C.) FIG. 7C also includes a clip 28 on the hook portion 20 that provides another feature for branding and/or information about a garment handing on the hanging apparatus 100. (See, also, FIGS. 1A, 2A, 2C, 3A, 4, 5C and 6C.)

FIG. 8A shows a front isometric view of an alternative embodiment of a hanger apparatus 200 according to the present disclosure. The hanger apparatus 200 includes a (in this case, a unitary) hook member 210 and a unitary body member 250. The unitary hook member 210 includes a hook portion 220 and a hook member connection portion 230, and the (in this case, a unitary) body member 250 includes a body member connection portion 260 flanked by (two) support portions 270. The hook member connection portion 230 includes two connections 232, 234 shown on the left and right portions, respectively. The two connections 232, 234, which may individually or each be snap fit connections, hooking connections, or latching connections (or alternatively other connections described herein), are available for facilitating releasably connection between the hook member 210 and the body member 250. The body member connection portion 260 of the body member 250 includes corresponding features (e.g., holes—not shown) into and/or through which portions of the two connections 232, 234, respectively, extend so as to enable releasable connection between the hook member 210 and the body member 250 of the hanger apparatus 200. In FIG. 8A, each support portion 270 of the body member 250 includes an adjustable clamping device 280 for releasably holding (or grabbing) at least a portion of the one or more articles of clothing (not shown) to be supported by the hanger apparatus 200.

FIGS. 8B and 8C show a magnified side view and front isometric view of the adjustable clamping device 280 from the hanger apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 8A. Each adjustable clamping device 280 connects to the support portion 270 of the body member 250 between a back wall 281 and central wall 282, within a channel 283. The connection can be relatively permanent or relatively releasable, as desired. If relatively permanent, a protrusion 284 may either be forced by interference fit against a (front) side of the support portion 270 or may engage with a corresponding feature (not shown) on the (front) side of the support portion that locks into place. Alternatively, if relatively releasable, the protrusion 284 may releasably engage with a corresponding feature (not shown) on the (front) side of the support portion 270, so as to create a releasable connection, e.g., via any releasable connection mechanism/means described herein. Each adjustable clamping device 280 also contains a grasping region 285 within which a series of protrusions 286 are matingly interspaced on each of the central wall 282 and a front wall 287 of the adjustable clamping device 280. An adjustable closure member 288 may slidingly engage within front and back channels 289. For instance, the adjustable closure member 288 being slid downward within the front and back channels 289 can urge front wall 287 toward central wall 282, thereby, in tandem with the matingly interspaced protrusions 286, enabling the grasping and/or holding of a portion of one or more articles of clothing to be supported by the hanger apparatus 200. Correspondingly, the adjustable closure member 288 being slid upward within the front and back channels 289 can release the pressure that was previously urging the front wall 287 toward the central wall 282, thereby separating the matingly interspaced protrusions 286, thus enabling the releasing of the article(s) of clothing.

FIG. 9 shows a front isometric view of a (in this case, unitary) hook member 10 (which may be identical, or merely similar, hook member 10 from FIGS. 1A-1B, 2A-2C, and 3A-3B) separate from (but releasably attachable to) a (in this case, unitary) body member 50 (which, when attached, forms hanger apparatus 100). Like in FIGS. 3A-3B, the hook member 10 of FIG. 9 is unitary (single-piece) and includes a hook portion 20 and a hook member connection portion 30. The hook member connection portion 30 includes two connections 32, 34 shown on the left and right portions, respectively. The body member 50 is unitary (single-piece) and includes a (central) connection portion 60 flanked by two support portions 70. A front face 38 of the hook member connection portion 30 is shown in FIG. 9.

The two connections 32, 34, which may individually or each be snap fit connections, hooking connections, or latching connections, are available for facilitating releasably connection between the hook member 10 and the body member 50. The body member connection portion 60 of the body member 50 includes corresponding features (e.g., openings, apertures or holes) 62, 64, into and/or through which portions of the two connections 32, 34, respectively, may extend so as to enable releasable connection between the hook member 10 and the body member 50. While the body member 50 is illustrated as a single piece, a multi-piece body member may also be employed as the application dictates.

FIG. 10 shows a front isometric view of an embodiment of a (in this case, unitary) hook member 210 (which may be identical, or merely similar, hook member 210 from FIGS. 8A-8C) separate from (but releasably attachable to) a (in this case, unitary) body member 250 (which, when attached, forms hanger apparatus 200). The hook member 210 includes a hook portion 220 and a hook member connection portion 230, and the body member 250 includes a body member connection portion 260 flanked by (two) support portions 270. The hook member connection portion 230 includes two connections 232, 234 shown on the left and right portions, respectively. The two connections 232, 234, which may individually or each be snap fit connections, hooking connections, or latching connections (or alternatively other connections described herein), are available for facilitating releasably connection between the hook member 210 and the body member 250. The body member connection portion 260 of the body member 250 includes corresponding features 262, 264 into and/or through which portions of the two connections 232, 234, respectively, may extend so as to enable releasable connection between the hook member 210 and the body member 250.

An adjustable clamping device 280, shown in exploded view and similar to clamping device 280 from FIGS. 8A-8C, may connect to each support portion 270 of the body member 250 relatively permanently or relatively releasably, as desired. If relatively permanently, protrusion (not shown, but similar to protrusions 284 from FIGS. 8B-8C) may either be forced by interference fit against a (front) side of the support portion 270 or may engage with a corresponding feature 274 on the (front) side of the support portion 270 that may lock into place or alternatively form a releasable connection, e.g., via any releasable connection mechanism/means described herein. An adjustable closure member 288, shown in exploded view, may slidingly engage within front and back channels 289 of the adjustable clamping device 280.

With continuing reference to the aforementioned description and FIGUREs, an embodiment of a hanger apparatus (100) including a hook member (e.g., a unitary hook member (10)) and a body member (e.g., a unitary body member (50)) has been introduced herein. The unitary hook member (10) is made of a first material and includes a hook portion (20) integral with a hook member connection portion (30). The unitary body member (50) is made of a second material (e.g., a recyclable material) and includes a body member connection portion (60), as well as support portions (70) that, e.g., may flank the body member connection portion (60). The body member connection portion (60) of the unitary body member (50) is releasably connectable to the hook member connection portion (30) of the unitary hook member (10). The first material includes about 25% to about 75% by volume of the hanger apparatus (100) and the second material includes about 75% to about 25% by volume of the hanger apparatus (100).

The body member connection portion (60) of the unitary body member (50) is releasably connected to the hook member connection portion (30) of the unitary hook member (10) via one or more snap fit connections (32, 34, 62, 64), one or more hooking connections (32, 34, 62, 64), one or more tab and slot connections (32, 34, 62, 64), one or more interference fit connections (32, 34, 65, 67), one or more latching connections (32, 34, 65, 67), one or more groove fit connections (32, 34, 65, 67), or a combination thereof. The support portions (70) of the unitary body member (50) are configured to support one or more articles of clothing weighing up to, for instance, 10 pounds. In one embodiment, the support portions (270) of the unitary body member (250) each include an adjustable clamping device (280) for releasably holding a portion of one or more articles of clothing.

The first material includes, without limitation, an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, a poly(ethylene terephthalate) polymer or copolymer, a polypropylene polymer or copolymer, a polyethylene polymer or copolymer, a poly(vinyl chloride) polymer or copolymer, a polystyrene polymer or copolymer, a poly(methyl methacrylate) polymer or copolymer, a nylon polymer or copolymer, or a combination thereof. The second material may include, without limitation, chipboard, fiberboard, compressed wood pulp, and/or paper pulp. The second material may also include fibers made from, without limitation, hemp, cotton, wool, nonwoven materials, textiles, or combinations thereof.

With continuing reference to the aforementioned description and FIGUREs, an embodiment of a hanger apparatus (100) including a hook member (e.g., a multi-piece hook member (110)) and a body member (e.g., a unitary body member (50)) has been introduced herein. The multi-piece hook member (110) is collectively made of a first material and includes a first piece (112) releasably connectable to a second piece (114). The first piece (112) includes a first hook member connection portion (130) and the second piece (114) includes a hook portion (120) integral with a second hook member connection portion (131), the hook portion (120) being flanked by the first hook member connection portion (130) and the second hook member connection portion (131). The unitary body member (50) is made of a second material (e.g., a recyclable material) and includes a body member connection portion (60) flanked by support portions (70). The body member connection portion (60) of the unitary body member (50) being releasably connectable to the first hook member connection portion (130) and the second hook member connection portion (131) of the multi-piece hook member (110). The first material includes about 25% to about 75% by volume of the hanger apparatus (100) and the second material includes about 75% to about 25% by volume of the hanger apparatus (100).

The first piece (112) is releasably connectable to the second piece (114) via one or more snap fit connections (133, 135), one or more hooking connections (133, 135), one or more tab and slot connections (133, 135), one or more interference fit connections (133, 135), one or more latching connections (133, 135), one or more groove fit connections (133, 135), or a combination thereof. The body member connection portion (60) of the unitary body member (50) is releasably connected to the first hook member connection portion (130) and the second hook member connection portion (131) of the multi-piece hook member (110) only by disconnection of the first piece (112) from the second piece (114) of the multi-piece hook member (110).

The body member connection portion (60) of the unitary body member (50) is releasably connected the first hook member connection portion (130) and the second hook member connection portion (131) of the multi-piece hook member (110) via one or more snap fit connections (132, 134, 137, 61, 63, 65, 67), one or more hooking connections (132, 134, 137, 61, 63, 65, 67), one or more tab and slot connections (132, 134, 137, 61, 63, 65, 67), one or more interference fit connections (132, 134, 137, 61, 63, 65, 67), one or more latching connections (132, 134, 137, 61, 63, 65, 67), one or more groove fit connections (132, 134, 137, 61, 63, 65, 67), or a combination thereof. The support portions (70) of the unitary body member (50) are configured to support one or more articles of clothing weighing up to, for instance, 10 pounds. In one embodiment, the support portions (270) of the unitary body member (250) each include an adjustable clamping device (280) for releasably holding a portion of one or more articles of clothing.

The first material includes, without limitation, an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, a poly(ethylene terephthalate) polymer or copolymer, a polypropylene polymer or copolymer, a polyethylene polymer or copolymer, a poly(vinyl chloride) polymer or copolymer, a polystyrene polymer or copolymer, a poly(methyl methacrylate) polymer or copolymer, a nylon polymer or copolymer, or a combination thereof. The second material may include, without limitation, chipboard, fiberboard, compressed wood pulp, and/or paper pulp. The second material may also include fibers made from, without limitation, hemp, cotton, wool, nonwoven materials, textiles, or combinations thereof.

Another and/or a related aspect of the present disclosure relates to portions of a hanger apparatus that may be packaged and/or provided separately from other portions of a hanger apparatus. For instance, a unitary hook member such as disclosed herein may be packaged and/or provided separately from a body member (e.g., a unitary body member) such as disclosed herein; one or more (e.g., all) pieces of a multi-piece hook member such as disclosed herein may be packaged and/or sold separately from a unitary body member such as disclosed herein; a unitary body member such as disclosed herein may be packaged and/or provided separately from a hook member, such as a unitary or multi-piece hook member disclosed herein. In many such situations, the portions and members disclosed herein to be releasably connected or attached to each other may instead be configured to be releasably attached or connected to each other, but may be provided substantially without one or more of the relevant other portions/members of the hanger apparatus but capable of being eventually connected/attached thereto.

Thus, a unitary hanger body apparatus portion (or body member), including a body member connection portion flanked by support portions, but substantially no hook member, is introduced herein. The body member connection portion of the body member being configured to be releasably connectable to a hook member connection portion of a hook member, which includes a hook portion integral with the hook member connection portion, wherein the hook member is made of a first material and wherein the body member is made of a second material different from the first material.

With continuing reference to the aforementioned description and FIGUREs, an embodiment of a hanger body member (50) has been introduced herein. The hanger body member (50) includes a body member connection portion (60) flanked by support portions (70).

The body member connection portion (60) of said hanger body member (50) is configured to be releasably connectable to a hook member connection portion (30) of a hook member (10, 110), which includes a hook portion (20, 120) integral with the hook member connection portion (30). The hook member (10, 110) is made of a first material and the hanger body member (50) is made of a second material (e.g., a recyclable material) different from the first material.

The body member connection portion (60) of the hanger body member (50) is releasably connected to the hook member connection portion (30) of the hook member (10, 110) via one or more snap fit connections (32, 34, 62, 64), one or more hooking connections (32, 34, 62, 64), one or more tab and slot connections (32, 34, 62, 64), one or more interference fit connections (32, 34, 65, 67), one or more latching connections (32, 34, 65, 67), one or more groove fit connections (32, 34, 65, 67), or a combination thereof. The support portions (70) of the hanger body member (50) are configured to support one or more articles of clothing weighing up to 10 pounds. The support portions (70) of the hanger body member (50) each may include an adjustable clamping device (280) for releasably holding a portion of one or more articles of clothing.

The hook member connection portion (30) of said hook member (10, 110) may be bifurcated into a first hook member connection portion (130) and a second hook member connection portion (131). The body member connection portion (60) of the hanger body member (50) is releasably connected to the first hook member connection portion (130) and the second hook member connection portion (131) of the hook member (10, 110) only by disconnection of a first piece (112) from a second piece (114) of the hook member (10, 110). In accordance therewith, the body member connection portion (60) of the hanger body member (50) is releasably connected to the first hook member connection portion (130) and the second hook member connection portion (131) of the hook member (10, 110) via one or more snap fit connections (132, 134, 137, 61, 63, 65, 67), one or more hooking connections (132, 134, 137, 61, 63, 65, 67), one or more tab and slot connections (132, 134, 137, 61, 63, 65, 67), one or more interference fit connections (132, 134, 137, 61, 63, 65, 67), one or more latching connections (132, 134, 137, 61, 63, 65, 67), one or more groove fit connections (132, 134, 137, 61, 63, 65, 67), or a combination thereof.

The first material includes, without limitation, an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, a poly(ethylene terephthalate) polymer or copolymer, a polypropylene polymer or copolymer, a polyethylene polymer or copolymer, a poly(vinyl chloride) polymer or copolymer, a polystyrene polymer or copolymer, a poly(methyl methacrylate) polymer or copolymer, a nylon polymer or copolymer, or a combination thereof. The second material may include, without limitation, chipboard, fiberboard, compressed wood pulp, and/or paper pulp. The second material may also include fibers made from, without limitation, hemp, cotton, wool, nonwoven materials, textiles, or combinations thereof.

Although the embodiments and their advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined by the appended claims. For example, many of the features and functions discussed above can be implemented in software, hardware, or firmware, or a combination thereof. Also, many of the features, functions, and steps of operating the same may be reordered, omitted, added, etc., and still fall within the broad scope of the various embodiments.

Moreover, the scope of the various embodiments is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed, that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized as well. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.

Claims

1. A apparatus, comprising:

a unitary hook member made of a first material and comprising a hook portion integral with a hook member connection portion; and

a unitary body member made of a second material and including a body member connection portion flanked by support portions, said body member connection portion of said unitary body member being releasably connectable to said hook member connection portion of said unitary hook member.

2. The hanger apparatus (100) as recited in claim 1 wherein said first material includes about 25% to about 75% by volume of said hanger apparatus and said second material includes about 75% to about 25% by volume of said hanger apparatus.

3. The hanger apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said body member connection portion of said unitary body member is releasably connected to said hook member connection portion of said unitary hook member via one or more snap fit connections, one or more hooking connections, one or more tab and slot connections, one or more interference fit connections, one or more latching connections, one or more groove fit connections, or a combination thereof.

4. The hanger apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said support portions of said unitary body member are configured to support one or more articles of clothing weighing up to 10 pounds.

5. The hanger apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said support portions of said unitary body member each comprise an adjustable clamping device for releasably holding a portion of one or more articles of clothing.

6. The hanger apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said second material includes chipboard, fiberboard, compressed wood pulp, and/or paper pulp.

7. The hanger apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said second material includes fibers made from hemp, cotton, wool, nonwoven materials, textiles, or combinations thereof.

8. The hanger apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said second material is recyclable.

9. The hanger apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said first material includes an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, a poly(ethylene terephthalate) polymer or copolymer, a polypropylene polymer or copolymer, a polyethylene polymer or copolymer, a poly(vinyl chloride) polymer or copolymer, a polystyrene polymer or copolymer, a poly(methyl methacrylate) polymer or copolymer, a nylon polymer or copolymer, or a combination thereof.

10. A hanger apparatus, comprising:

a multi-piece hook member collectively made of a first material and including a first piece releasably connectable to a second piece said first piece including a first hook member connection portion and said second piece including a hook portion integral with a second hook member connection portion, said hook portion being flanked by said first hook member connection portion and said second hook member connection portion; and

a unitary body member made of a second material and including a body member connection portion flanked by support portions said body member connection portion of said unitary body member being releasably connectable to said first hook member connection portion and said second hook member connection portion of said multi-piece hook member.

11. The hanger apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said first material includes about 25% to about 75% by volume of said hanger apparatus and said second material includes about 75% to about 25% by volume of said hanger apparatus.

12. The hanger apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said first piece is releasably connectable to said second piece via one or more snap fit connections, one or more hooking connections, one or more tab and slot connections, one or more interference fit connections, one or more latching connections, one or more groove fit connections, or a combination thereof.

13. The hanger apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said body member connection portion of said unitary body member is releasably connected to said first hook member connection portion and said second hook member connection portion of said multi-piece hook member only by disconnection of said first piece from said second piece of said multi-piece hook member.

14. The hanger apparatus as recited claim 10 wherein said body member connection portion of said unitary body member is releasably connected to said first hook member connection portion and said second hook member connection portion of said multi-piece hook member via one or more snap fit connections, one or more hooking connections, one or more tab and slot connections, one or more interference fit connections, one or more latching connections, one or more groove fit connections, or a combination thereof.

15. The hanger apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said support portions of said unitary body member are configured to support one or more articles of clothing weighing up to 10 pounds.

16. The hanger apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said support portions of said unitary body member each comprise an adjustable clamping device for releasably holding a portion of one or more articles of clothing.

17. The hanger apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said second material comprises chipboard, fiberboard, compressed wood pulp, and/or paper pulp.

18. The hanger apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said second material comprises fibers made from hemp, cotton, wool, nonwoven materials, textiles, or combinations thereof.

19. The hanger apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said second material is recyclable.

20. The hanger apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said first material includes an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, a poly(ethylene terephthalate) polymer or copolymer, a polypropylene polymer or copolymer, a polyethylene polymer or copolymer, a poly(vinyl chloride) polymer or copolymer, a polystyrene polymer or copolymer, a poly(methyl methacrylate) polymer or copolymer, a nylon polymer or copolymer, or a combination thereof.

21.-30. (canceled)