Abstract:
A hanger specifically designed for holding and suspending lightweight clothing, particularly delicate fabrics, has a rigid, elongated body terminating at each end in a pair of arms, one on top and one on the bottom of the body forming article receiving slots opening toward the center of the hanger. A third arm creates a downwardly opening slot at the end of the body. The arms are designed to permit limited flexing for seating and removing articles from the slots. The flexing occurs as a hinging action at the point of attachment to the body and at this point the arms are reinforced. The upper of the slots may have a pocket portion for positively securing garment straps and the like and also a finger member spaced from the inner end of the upper arm to form an upwardly opening entry to the slot or it may have a spring-like finger in the pocket which clamps a garment inserted into the pocket area. The downwardly opening end slots may have an upwardly extending finger to clamp a garment against the finger forming the outer side of the slot.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 181,388, filed Apr. 14, 1988, now abandoned, entitled INTIMATE APPAREL HANGER WITH GARMENT LOCK which application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 108,227, filed Oct. 14, l987, now abandoned, entitled INTIMATE APPAREL HANGER WITH UPPER GARMENT LOCK which application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 049,276, filed May 13, 1987, entitled INTIMATE APPAREL HANGER, now abandoned. 
    
    
     This invention relates to lightweight, one-piece hangers particularly designed for either display or home use with lightweight delicate garments. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     For the purpose of effectively displaying lightweight garments of delicate fabrics, such as underwear and the like, there is a need for a hanger which will effectively and reliably hold the garment for the purpose of display without damage to the delicate fabrics involved. The hanger must also be capable of effectively gripping various types of garments. It is equally desirable to provide such a hanger which can be repeatedly used with the garments by the user without damage or wear on the garment itself. This is particularly true in connection with laundering the garments. Because of the nature of the garments with which these types of hangers are used, it is important that the hangers themselves be lightweight, easy to use and capable of gripping the garment without the use of means which would cut or injure any of the threads of the garment. It is also important that the hanger be inexpensive because, in the case of many retail facilities, the hangers either have a single use or, in some cases, are delivered to the customer with the hanger. From the viewpoint of the customer, particularly one who travels, it is important that the hanger be lightweight, capable of being tightly packed in luggage and transportable with a minimum of required spaced. 
     This invention provides an improvement over the hanger disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,623,079, issued Nov. 18, 1987, to D. Tendrup et al. entitled GARMENT HANGER WITH GRIP and U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,102, issued Dec. 16, 1986, to D. Tendrup et al., entitled GARMENT HANGER WITH CLIP. The invention provides a garment hanger from which can be suspended a variety of garments, such as underwear, brassieres, slips or pantyhose, these being only exemplary of the broad spectrum of use of the invention. The invention is particularly designed to provide a positive support for garments suspended from their straps which will assure that the straps will not become detached and, thereby, release the garment. The invention also provides the capability of hanging garments having wide support bands, as well as narrow support bands. The invention provides security means for this type of garment which positively prevents inadvertent release of the garment by the hanger because the hanger&#39;s construction necessitates the positive intervention of an operator to effect garment release. The construction of the arms which clamp the garment to the hanger is such that the arms can be flexed many times without danger of breakage due to fatigue and yet the arms provide sufficient resistance to deflection to effectively and positively clamp the garment. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a hanger incorporating this invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, front view of one end of the hanger; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional, elevation view taken along the plane III--III of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the plane IV--IV of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged, sectional view taken along the plane V--V of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged, sectional view taken along the plane VI--VI of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary front view of a modified construction for the hanger; 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary front view of a further modified construction for the hanger; 
     FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary front view of a still further modified construction for the hanger; 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional elevation view taken along the plane X--X of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a front elevation view of an additional modification of the invention; 
     FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation view of one end of, the hanger illustrated in FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 13 is a sectional elevation view taken along the plane XIII--XIII of FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 14 is an enlarged, fragmentary front view of another modification of this invention; and 
     FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along the plane XV--XV of FIG. 14. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The numeral 10 refers to a hanger having an elongated body 11 and an upstanding hook 12. The hook is centered midway between the ends of the body 11 and preferably is integral with the body. Preferably, the body and the hook and all structure which is integral with both is molded of a suitable plastic as a single, integral unit. Suitable plastics for this purpose include polyethylene and polypropylene. As best seen in FIG. 5, to obtain maximum strength with minimum material, the body 11 is shaped as an I-beam with upper and lower flanges 14 and 15 connected by a vertical web 16. 
     The hook 12 is provided with a panel 17 for attachment of a size indicator. This type of panel and the size indicator system used with such panel is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,639, entitled HANGER WITH SIZE INDICATOR PANEL, issued May 29, 1984, to Everett L. Duester. 
     The opposite ends of the body 11 are identical and each is designed to provide multiple means for engaging and supporting garments. Since the ends are identical, the description of one end will be considered to apply equally to the opposite end of the body. Referring now specifically to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the body terminates in a vertical web portion 19 from the top of which an arm 20 extends outwardly and downwardly to an outwardly curved end portion 21. The arm 20 forms a garment receiving slot or channel 22 which is open at its lower end. The shape of the arm 20 is such that the mouth or open end of the slot 22 is narrower than the upper or inner end 23, thus, providing a garment clamping zone. In addition, the surface of the body facing into the slot 22 is provided with a plurality of spaced projections or protrusions 24 which serve as grips for garments inserted into the slot 22 and pressed against the protrusions by the arm 20. The protrusions are smoothly rounded so that they will not cut or snag the delicate fabrics of the garments with which the hanger is designed to be used. It will be seen from FIG. 2 that the web 16 of the body is reinforced adjacent the slot 22 by a front to back extending flange 25. This flange is reinforced by a portion of the web which is integral with the outer face of the flange, forming an arm of T-shaped cross section. It will also be noted from both FIGS. 2 and 4 that that portion of the flange which extends around the closed end of the slot 22 is thickened to improve its structural characteristics and to provide additional resistance to flexing. This structure is particularly important in providing the portion connecting the arm to the body itself with both the resilient but relatively stiff characteristics necessary to create an effective garment grip and also to provide the necessary resistance to fatigue resulting from the frequent flexing. This latter is a serious problem with molded plastic products which require a part of the body of the molded product to be repeatedly flexed, particularly when the area in which the bending is to occur cannot be molded of a plastic which is particularly suited to flexing because of the need for relatively high resistance to flexing. Also, the thickened flange is reinforced by the outwardly extending web which provides substantial support and resistance to the joint as well as durability and strength. 
     The vertical portion 19 of the end of the body 11 from which the arm 20 extends has an inwardly extending portion forming an upper arm 30. The upper arm 30, like the outer arm 20, has a cross flange 31 at its inner face which is an extension of the upper flange 14. The flange 31 extends around and defines the slot 32 formed between the upper arm 30 and the upper face of the body 11. Again, the flange 31, where it passes around the blind end or outer end of the slot 32 is increased in thickness to provide the same type of resistance to flexing as is provided for the arm 20 and also serving the same purpose. 
     Like the slot 22, the slot 32 is narrowed adjacent its open end and in the narrow portion is provided with a plurality of protrusions 34 identical to the protrusions 24. Outwardly, from the protrusions 34 and adjacent the blind end of the slot 32, the slot is deepened to form a pocket 35 which is recessed downwardly into the body 11. At the entrance to the pocket, the upper flange 14 of the body is extended outwardly a short distance into the pocket 35 to provide a tongue 36 overlying a recess 37. 
     Spaced inwardly a short distance from the upwardly turned inner end of the upper arm 30, a finger 38 extends upwardly and outwardly at an angle from the upper flange 14 of the body 11. The outer end of the finger extends over a recess 39 between it and the upper flange 11. The outer end of the finger 38 in cooperation with the inner end of the upper arm 30 defines a restricted upwardly opening entrance 32a to the slot 32. This particular arrangement is effective in positively preventing unintentional release of garments secured by having a strap or the like seated in the slot from becoming detached from the hanger. This is in addition to the fact that the tongue 36 is also an effective restraint against accidental garment release. 
     Also, extending from the end of the arm 11 is a lower finger 40 defining a slot 41 between it and the lower flange 15 of the body. The slot 41, for all practical purposes, is identical to the slot 22, except that it extends horizontally and its blind end is toward the outer end of the body 11. It also has a plurality of protrusions 42 narrowing the entrance to the slot as well as the thickened portion of the flange in the hinge area where the arm joins the body. Both of the fingers 30 and 40 are stiffened and reinforced by the rib-like extensions of the web 16 extending outwardly from the slots 32 and 41, respectively. 
     By providing the three different slots, two or which extend lengthwise of the beam and one vertically, the hanger is equipped to handle a wide variety of garments. Because the hinge areas where the arms join the body 11 are thickened and reinforced, the fatigue failure which has been experienced in hangers of this construction in the past has been eliminated. Further, the stiffness of the hinge is increased and, therefore, the hangers are successful in effectively gripping garments manufactured of materials which provide surfaces having low friction surface characteristics, thus, materially reducing the chance that a garment will be unintentionally released. 
     The construction of the upper arm with the upwardly opening entrance to the slot is particularly desirable as a means of securing the support of garments which are of a fabric having a slick or low friction surface or may be of a nature such that they cause the hanger to tilt about its center hook creating a tendency to allow at least one side of the garment to be released from the pocket in which it is mounted. This will positively not occur in the case of this construction because the garment has to move upwardly, rather than simply laterally, to escape the confines of the pockets 35. With the reinforced construction of the arms 20, 30 and 40, the garment clamping and holding effectiveness of the hanger is materially increased. 
     FIGS. 7-10 illustrate modifications of the hanger construction described above. In each case, the arms forming the slots remain the same cross-sectional design as the corresponding arms shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In each of the modified constructions, the tongue 36a has been lengthened to prevent the garment from entering the lower portion of the pocket 35. Also, protrusions or projections 34a have been added to the upper surface of the tongue 36a adjacent its free end and a projection 34b has been added to the lower surface of the flange 31. As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the projections 34a and b are offset from each other lengthwise of the tongue but in the construction illustrated in FIG. 9 they are vertically aligned. When they are offset, as in FIGS. 7 and 8, they can be and preferably do vertically overlap. 
     In the construction illustrated in FIG. 7, additional projections 42a have been added to the walls of the slot 41. 
     In the construction illustrated in FIG. 8, the slot 41a has been modified to be similar to the pocket 35 and a tongue 60 similar to the tongue 36a is added. The tongues 36a and 60 are resilient and, by reason of their length, act in the manner of a leaf spring. Thus, they cause the projections 34a and b to grip the garments, further anchoring them against unintended release. Since the garments have not been passed around a projection into a recess having a partially closed entrance, removal of the garments is facilitated because they do not have to be lifted and passed around the guard or tongue as is the case with the construction illustrated in FIG. 2. At the same time, construction provides a positive guard against accidental release. 
     FIGS. 11-13 illustrate another modification of the hanger&#39;s construction. In this construction, the body 11a is similar in cross section to the body 11 and is supported at its center by a hook l2a. The hook l2a is the same as hook 12 except it is illustrated as modified by elimination of the panel 17. The body 11a, like the body 11, has an I-beam type of cross section, such as illustrated in FIG. 5. However, its ends 70 are vertically enlarged. This enlargement makes it possible to provide end clamps having greater vertical depth and, thus, more frictional contact with a garment. This also provides the hanger with the ability to handle a wider range of garment constructions, particularly those having wide waistbands. 
     As is best seen in FIG. 12, at each end of the body, the arm 71 extends downwardly. The arm is spaced outwardly from the end wall 72 of the body to form a generally vertical slot-like pocket 73, open at the bottom and closed at the top. The lower end of the arm 71 is curved outwardly to provide a guide when garments are being mounted on the hanger. The lower edge of the body extends partially across the lower end of the pocket 73 providing a nexus 78 which supports an upwardly extending finger 74, the upper end of which is adjacent to but detached from the closed end of the pocket 73. The finger 74 divides the pocket into a relatively narrow garment receiving channel 75 between the finger 74 and the arm 71 and a wider chamber 76 between the arm 71 and the end wall 72 of the hanger body. The chamber 76 provides a space into which the finger can be deflected by a garment inserted into the channel 75. The finger 74 is as wide as the flange 76 which extends around the pocket 73 (FIG. 13). Preferably, the pocket 73 is wider at the top than at the bottom to provide the upper end of the finger adequate deflection room. The thickness of the finger is such as to resist deflection but not so great that it will not deflect before the necessary tension applied by the garment will cause injury to the garment or make use of the hanger difficult. The vertical member 77 of the arm which forms the lower horizontal clamp 81 extends under the nexus 78 supporting the finger 74 and provides strength and support for the base of the arm where it is joined to the end of the hanger body. Also, the laterally outer end of this flange extends into the entrance of the channel 75 providing a smoothly rounded projection 79 serving as a positive restriction. This serves the dual purpose of assuring the application of positive clamping pressure against the garment to hold it in the channel 75 and provide a ledge to seat under any hem or similar band at the top of the garment to further support it. Also, by so extending around the nexus supporting the finger, it further stiffens and strengthens it. 
     Horizontally extending garment clamps are provided on both the top and the bottom of the hanger adjacent the pocket 73. These clamps are identical except for the fact that the lower pocket 80a is inverted with respect to the upper pocket 80. The upper pocket 80 is formed by an arm 82 which extends inwardly along the top of the hanger body forming an article receiving slot 83 between it and the top of the hanger body. Access to the slot is through the opening 84 between the hanger body and the curved end of the arm 82. 
     The pocket widens vertically and is divided by a tongue 85 which extends in cantilever fashion almost the entire length of the pocket. The outer end of the tongue 85 is spaced from the end wall of the pocket and above the bottom of the pocket whereby the tongue has space to deflect under pressure from a garment inserted in the slot 83. 
     Within the slot, the top of the tongue 85 forming the bottom of the slot 83 has a plurality of upwardly extending protrusions arranged in two groups. The first protrusion 86 adjacent the entrance to the slot is wedge shaped having an elongated, inclined surface facing the entrance to the slot to facilitate the introduction of garments into the slot. Four additional protrusions 87 and 87a, arranged in pairs, are provided. The protrusions 87a are spaced further apart than the protrusions 87 creating a gap above which a protrusion 88 extending downwardly from arm 82 is provided to form an article grip. The slot formed by the lower arm 81 has the same pattern of protrusions. The protrusions 87, 87a and 88 have the same construction as the protrusions 34a and b illustrated in FIG. 10. 
     The fact that the arms 71, 81 and 82 are all T-shaped in cross section is important. This construction not only provides the arms with the degree of resistance to deflection necessary to effectively grip and hold the garments it also strengthens the joinder of the arms to the hanger body. This is important in eliminating breakage of this type of arm construction which has been experienced in the use of hangers which have this type of garment grip. 
     FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate a further refinement of the invention. The only changes introduced into that illustrated in FIGS. 11-13 relate to the tongue or finger in the vertical end pocket and the tongue or fingers in the upper and lower pockets. In this construction, the finger 74a is reinforced by a central rib 94 which extends from the base of the finger or its nexus to the body a major portion of the finger&#39;s length. The height of the rib from the surface of the finger tapers with the height being greatest at the base of the finger and gradually tapering to nothing toward the finger&#39;s free end. 
     The finger 74a is also provided with an enlarged head 95 at its free end which extends into the deflection chamber. The head 95 acts as a stop to limit deflection, thus, if necessary, requiring the clothes situated in the garment channel to deflect the intermediate portion of the finger, if additional space is required. This provides a very positive grip on the garments. The tongues or fingers 85a in the pockets 80 and 80a are constructed the same way and function in the same manner. 
     Having described the preferred embodiments of our invention and certain modifications thereof, it will be understood that additional embodiments can be made without departing from the principles thereof. Such embodiments are to be considered as included in the hereinafter appended claims, unless these claims by their language, expressly state otherwise.