Abstract:
An adjustable clothing hanger is a clothes hanger that is adjustable in size. Each side of the hanger has an adjustment mechanism, thus allowing for a variable width. The adjustment mechanism consists of a series of spring loaded pushbuttons (or snap fasteners) on a smaller diameter tube that engages a series of orifices or apertures on a larger diameter tube. It allows for the hanging of larger sized shirts, blouses, jackets, coats and the like without allowing the shoulder sections to sag. The adjustable clothing hanger also provides a swivel joint near the hook of the hanger where it joins the horizontal section. This joint allows the hanger to swivel in the closet and allows the hanger to be at any angle to the closet rod versus the perpendicular manner as required of conventional hangers.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in Disclosure Document Registration No. 512,395 filed on May 30, 2002 under 35 U.S.C. §122 and 37 C.F.R. §1.14. There are no previously filed, nor currently any co-pending applications, anywhere in the world. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to clothing hangers, and more specifically to an adjustable clothing hanger. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Americans are blessed with being able to find virtually any type of clothing style in just about any size. Each person is almost assured of having clothing that fits their body size and shape perfectly. However, with the exception of small child hangers, everyone is forced to store their clothing on a single sized hanger that is approximately 18 inches wide. This is clearly a case where one size does not fit all. Those with larger sized shirts, blouses, jackets, and coats must deal with shoulder areas that sag when stored on a smaller hanger. This causes the clothes to look less than perfect when removed from the hanger and may even necessitate an extra ironing. This of course consumes extra time and ultimately may cause damage to the clothing due to additional ironing, washing, drying or dry cleaning. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which those with larger sized clothing can be afforded a means to hang such clothing in a closet without the disadvantages as described above. 
     A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related: 
     U. S. Pat. No. 6,220,489, issued in the name of Sato, describes a folding clothes hanger; 
     U. S. Pat. No. 6,206,255, issued in the name of Turner, describes a clothes hanger adapters; 
     U. S. Pat. No. 6,179,174, issued in the name of Kandl, describes an adjustable clothes hanger; 
     U. S. Pat. No. 6,164,504, issued in the name of Richard, describes a clothes hanger extender; which attaches to standard plastic hangers 
     U. S. Pat. No. 6,003,743, issued in the name of Deady, describes a multiple item adjustable clothes hanger for one or more clothing articles; 
     U. S. Pat. No. 5,711,464, issued in the name of Huang, describes a length adjustable clothes hanger with flexible arm; 
     U. S. Pat. No. 5,476,199, issued in the name of Halverson et al, describes a clothes hanger with adjustable, extendable clothing support arms; 
     U. S. Pat. No. 5,085,358, issued in the name of Lam, describes a clothes hanger adjustable in length; and 
     U. S. Pat. No. 923,786, issued in the name of Geraci, describes an adjustable coat hanger. 
     Consequently, there exists a need for new ideas and enhancements for existing products in the clothing hanger industry. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved adjustable clothing hanger. 
     It is a feature of the present invention to provide an improved adjustable clothing hanger adjustable to a variety of sizes for accommodating a variety of clothing sizes. 
     It is a further feature of the present invention to provide an improved adjustable clothing hanger securely impinged so as to prevent unnecessary lateral movement of the device. 
     It is a further feature of the present invention to provide an improved adjustable clothing hanger having a textured, no-slip surface, thereby preventing slippage of clothes. 
     Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present invention, an adjustable clothes hanger is a clothes hanger that is adjustable in size. Each side of the hanger has an adjustment mechanism, thus allowing for a variable width. The adjustment mechanism consists of a series of spring loaded pushbuttons (or snap fasteners) on a smaller diameter tube that engages a series of orifices or apertures on a larger diameter tube. It allows for the hanging of larger sized shirts, blouses, jackets, coats and the like without allowing the shoulder sections to sag. Such support eliminates unsightly wrinkles, hanger marks in the yoke of the garment, or the improper stretching of the fabric, and provides for better-looking clothes when they are removed from a closet. The invention also provides a swivel joint near the hook of the hanger where it joins the horizontal section. This joint allows the hanger to swivel in the closet and allows the hanger to be at any angle to the closet rod versus the perpendicular manner as required of conventional hangers. This feature is especially important when used in closets that are not very deep. The use of an adjustable clothes hanger allows those with larger clothing to hang such clothing in a closet, knowing it will be neat, wrinkle-free and presentable when removed. 
     The use of the present invention provides users with all of the materials and tools necessary to ensure that a user may easily use and maintain an adjustable clothing hanger. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that it is specifically adapted for personal use because of the light weight components and the use of inexpensive materials. 
     A further advantage of the present invention is that prevents hanger lines and creases in clothing that are caused by conventional clothing hangers. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 a  is a perspective view of an adjustable clothing hanger; 
     FIG. 1 b  is a side view of the adjustable clothing hanger of FIG. 1 a ; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the inset region of FIG. 1 b ; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the adjustable clothing hanger; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an upper conduit of the apparatus of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the component shown in FIG. 4, taken through line V—V; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a lower conduit of the apparatus of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the component shown in FIG. 6, taken through line VII—VII; 
     FIG. 8 is a side view and partial cross-section, wherein a portion of the upper conduit is pulled back so as to see the relationship between the upper conduit and the telescoping shaft, taken through the line VIII—VIII of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, taken through line IX—IX, wherein the diameter of the telescoping shaft is illustrated in relationship to the internal diameter of the upper conduit; 
     FIG. 10 a  is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, taken through line VIII—VIII, wherein a spring urged snap fastener is shown in a retracted stage; 
     FIG. 10 b  is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, taken through line VIII—VIII, wherein the spring urged snap fastener is penetrating a shaft orifice and an aperture; and 
     FIG. 10 c  is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, taken through line VIII—VIII, wherein the spring urged snap fastener has completely penetrated the shaft orifice and the aperture, thereby impinging movement of the upper conduit in relation to the shaft. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the Figures. 
     1. Detailed Description of the Figures 
     Referring now to FIG. 1 a , FIG. 1 b  and FIG. 2, an adjustable clothing hanger  10 , in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is shown. The adjustable clothing hanger  10  comprises a yoke  12 , a first trap  14 , a second trap  16  and a beam  18 . 
     The yoke  12  includes a horizontal top surface  20  with a first pipe  22  depending from a first end of the top surface  20 , a second pipe  24  depending from a second end opposite to the first end, and a rotatable hook  108  depending from the center of the top surface  20 , thereby providing means for hanging the hanger from a closet rod. The first and second pipes  22  and  24  depend from the top surface  20  at an angle “a” that may vary from 1° to 30° below a horizontal plane indicated by the broken line “H—H”. The first pipe  22  telescopes into and out of a first upper cavity  30  of the first trap  14 , wherein the first pipe  22  has a smaller cross-sectional diameter than the inner cross-sectional diameter of the first trap  14 . Likewise, the second pipe  24  telescopes into and out of a second upper cavity  32  of the second trap  16 , wherein the second pipe  24  has a smaller cross-sectional diameter than the inner cross-sectional diameter of the second trap  16 . The first and second pipes  22  and  24  each house a spring-urged snap fastener  100  for securely maintaining the hanger at a determined width. The spring-urged snap fastener  100  comprises an impingement head  102  flanked by an impingement boss  104 . An outwardly biased spring  106  is affixed to the impingement boss  102 . The impingement head  102  penetrates through a lower orifice  26  in the first or second pipe  22  or  24  and then further penetrates through an aligned upper orifice  28  in the first or second trap  14  or  16 . Penetration of the impingement head  62  through the lower and upper orifices  26  and  28  securely hold the first or second pipe  22  or  24  in rigid relationship to the first or second trap  14  or  16 . 
     One end of the beam  18  inserts into a first lower cavity  34  of the first trap  14  and the opposing end of the beam  18  into a first lower cavity  36  of the second trap  16 . The length of the beam  18  is such that when the hanger  10  is extended to its widest width, the beam  18  will remain housed within the first trap  14  and the second trap  16 . The cross-sectional diameter of the shaft is smaller than the inner cross-sectional diameters of the lower cavity  34  of the first trap  14  or the lower cavity  36  of the second trap  16 , thereby allowing the beam  18  to telescope as envisioned. The first upper cavity  30  and the first lower cavity  34  are coupled together by a first connecting rod  33 . The second upper cavity  32  and the second lower cavity  36  are coupled together by a second connecting rod  35 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 10 a  through FIG. 10 c , the spring-urged snap fastener  60  is illustrated and serves as an representative model for inclusion in either the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 a , FIG. 1 b  and FIG. 2 or for the alternative embodiment depicted in FIG.  3  through FIG.  9 . The first or second pipe  22  or  24  is slidably telescoped within the first or second trap  14  or  16 , and the impingement head  62  is compressed within the first or second pipe  22  or  24 . When the lower orifice  26  aligns with the upper orifice  28 , the outwardly biased spring  66  urges the impingement head  62  outward and upward through the shaft orifice  58  and through the orifices  26  and  28 , thereby impinging any further lateral movement of the first or second pipe  22  or  24 . To accommodate desired lateral movement and adjustment of the hanger  10 , the impingement head  62  is forcibly pressed back into the orifices  26  and  28 , respectively, thereby allowing further lateral movement of the first or second pipe  22  or  24 . 
     Referring now to FIG.  3  through FIG. 9, an alternative embodiment of an adjustable clothing hanger  11  is shown. The adjustable clothing hanger  11  comprises a yoke  12 , wherein the yoke  12  includes a first trap  14 , a second trap  16 , a beam  18  and horizontal upper conduit  50 . The horizontal upper conduit  50  is opposite to the beam  18 . The beam  18  comprises a horizontal lower conduit  52 . 
     The first trap  14  includes a first arm  54  having a first elbow  58  at an end and a second elbow  66  at an opposing end. The first arm  54  includes a first elbow  58 . A first shaft  60  depends from the first elbow  58  and telescopes into and out of an end of the upper conduit  50 . The first arm  54  further includes a second elbow  62  positioned opposite to the first elbow  58 . A second shaft  64  depends from the second elbow  66  and telescopes into and out of an end of the lower conduit  52 . The second trap  16  includes a second arm  56  having a third elbow  68  at an end and a fourth elbow  72  at an opposing end. The second arm  56  includes a third elbow  68 . A third shaft  70  depends from the third elbow  68  and telescopes into and out of an end of the upper conduit  50 . The second arm  56  further includes a fourth elbow  72  positioned opposite to the third elbow  68 . A fourth shaft  74  depends from the fourth elbow  72  and telescopes into and out of an end of the lower conduit  52 . 
     Referring now to FIG.  4  through FIG. 7, the upper conduit  50  is a linearly elongated cylinder comprising a curvilinear outer wall  76  and a corresponding curvilinear inner wall  78  forming a hollow internal upper cavity  80  for receiving and housing the first and third shafts  60  and  70 . The outer and inner walls  76  and  78  contain a plurality of apertures  82  through which spring-urged snap fastener (discussed in greater detail below) inserts and thereby impinges the lateral movement of the first and third shafts  60  and  70 . The upper conduit  50  terminates at two opposing ends  84  and  86  through which the first and third shafts  60  and  70  telescope, respectively. The lower conduit  52  is a linearly elongated cylinder comprising a curvilinear outer wall  88  and a corresponding curvilinear inner wall  90  forming a hollow internal lower cavity  92  for receiving and housing the second and fourth shafts  64  and  74 . The lower conduit  52  terminates at two opposing ends  94  and  96  through which the second and fourth shafts  64  and  74  telescope, respectively. 
     Referring now to FIG. 8, the first and third shafts  60  and  70  are identical in structure and function, therefore a description of the first shaft  60  will serve as a representative description of the third shaft  70 . The first shaft  60  is a linearly elongated member projecting from the first elbow  58 , wherein the first shaft  60  is affixed to the first elbow  58  in a rigid manner. The first shaft  60  has a tubular construction (as seen in FIG.  7 ). The first shaft  60  has a smaller cross-sectional diameter “d 1 ” than the internal cross-sectional diameter “d 2 ” of either the first elbow  58  or the upper conduit  50 , thereby allowing for the lateral telescoping movement necessary for the hanger  11  to expand or contract in size. Likewise, the third shaft  70  is a linearly elongated member projecting from the third elbow  68 , wherein the third shaft  70  is affixed to the third elbow  68  in a rigid manner. The third shaft  70  has a tubular construction. The third shaft  70  has a smaller cross-sectional diameter “d 1 ” than the internal cross-sectional diameter “d 2 ” of either the third elbow  68  or the upper conduit  50 , thereby allowing for the lateral telescoping movement necessary for the hanger  11  to expand or contract in size. 
     The first and third shafts  60  and  70  each further include a shaft orifice  98  that allows a spring-urged snap fastener  100  to penetrate through and into an aperture  102 , thereby securely impinging the first and third shafts  60  and  70  once a desired hanger  11  size has been determined. The spring-urged snap fastener  100  comprises an impingement head  102  flanked by an impingement boss  104 . An outwardly biased spring  106  is affixed to the impingement boss  102 . As best shown in FIG. 10 a  through FIG. 10 c , the first or third shaft  60  or  70  is slidably telescoped within the upper conduit  50 , and the impingement head  102  is compressed within the shaft orifice  98  by the inner wall  78  of the upper conduit  50 . When an aperture  82  is aligned with a shaft orifice  98 , the outwardly biased spring  106  urges the impingement head  102  outward and upward through the shaft orifice  98  and through the aperture  82 , thereby impinging any further lateral movement of the first or third shaft  60  or  70 . To accommodate desired lateral movement and adjustment of the hanger  11 , the impingement head  102  is forcibly pressed back into the aperture  82  and the shaft orifice  98 , respectively, thereby allowing further lateral movement of the first or third shaft  60  or  70 . 
     The second and fourth shafts  64  and  74  are identical in structure and function, therefore a description of the second shaft  64  will serve as a representative description of the fourth shaft  74 . The second shaft  64  is a linearly elongated member projecting from the second elbow  62 , wherein the second shaft  64  is affixed to the second elbow  62  in a rigid manner. The second shaft  64  may have a tubular construction or a solid body construction. The second shaft  64  has a smaller cross-sectional diameter “d 1 ” than the cross-sectional diameter “d 2 ” of either the second elbow  62  or the lower conduit  52 , thereby allowing for the lateral telescoping movement necessary for the hanger  11  to expand or contract in size. Likewise, the fourth shaft  74  is a linearly elongated member projecting from the fourth elbow  72 , wherein the fourth shaft  74  is affixed to the fourth elbow  72  in a rigid manner. The fourth shaft  74  has a tubular construction or a solid body construction. The fourth shaft  74  has a smaller cross-sectional diameter “d 1 ” than the internal cross-sectional diameter “d 2 ” of either the fourth elbow  72  or the lower conduit  52 , thereby allowing for the lateral telescoping movement necessary for the hanger  11  to expand or contract in size. As the first and third shafts  60  and  70  are telescopically expanded or retracted, the second and fourth shafts  64  and  74  telescopically expand and retract in reaction to the telescopic movement. Thus, the first, second, third and fourth shafts  60 ,  64 ,  70  and  74  move in unison to a desired size chosen by a user. Further, the second and fourth shafts  64  and  74  are of sufficient length so as not to fall out of the lower conduit  52  when the hanger  11  is extended to its widest length. 
     Referring back to FIG. 1, a rotatable hook  108  is affixed to the upper conduit  50  and positioned between the medial apertures  82 ′. The hook  108  is affixed to the upper conduit  50  by a spindle  110 , in which the hook  108  and spindle  110  are rotatable through 360° of motion. 
     The hanger  10  or  11  may be manufactured from a number of substances, including recyclable materials such as plastic, metal or wood. The hanger  10  or  11  is envisioned to be available in a variety of solid colors or multi-colors. The shaft  18  or the lower conduit  52  may also include a textured outer wall so as to better hold trousers, slacks, linens or other similar items that might be draped over the shaft  18  or lower conduit  52 . 
     In either embodiment, it is envisioned that two general types of hanger  10  will be available; a child size and an adult size. The dimensions of the child hanger will narrow to ten (10) inches and extend out to sixteen (16) inches. The dimensions of the adult hanger will narrow to sixteen (16) inches and extend out to twenty-six (26) inches. 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of the scope. 
     2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment 
     The hanger  10  is adjustable to adopt a variety of sizes. To adjust the size of the hanger  10 , a user will press the protruding impingement head  102  back into and through the orifices  26  and  28 , thereby freeing the first or second pipe  22  or  24  to laterally telescope into or out of the first or second trap  14  or  16  and their respective upper cavities  30  or  32 . If desired, the remaining pipe  22  or  24  may be freed by pressing the remaining impingement head  102  back into and through the orifices  26  and  28 , thereby freeing the remaining first or second pipe  22  or  24  to laterally telescope into or out of the remaining first or second trap  14  or  16 . As the first or second pipe  22  or  24  is laterally telescoped, the shaft  18  telescopes in the same manner with the lower cavity  34  of the first trap  14  and the lower cavity  36  of the second trap  16 . 
     After determining the appropriate size for the hanger  10 , a user will place a clothing garment onto the hanger  10 . If the hanger  10  needs to be adjusted, the user can simply locate and press the impingement head(s)  102  thereby releasing the first or second pipe  22  or  24  for further telescopic movement. The user may then place the hanger  10  onto a closet rod by the hanger hook  108 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.