Abstract:
A garment transportation and storage device comprises a support rod at the bottom, a hook at the top, and a ball-shaped handle between the support rod and the hook for transporting garments supported on the support rod by hangers and for engaging the hook with a support structure. An article transportation and storage device comprises an inverted U-shaped frame, a support rod slidably engageable with the frame, and a hook mounted on the frame for pivotal movement between extended and retracted positions. A garment receiving and supporting hanger is provided with an inflatable garment protection device that prevents wrinkling of garments supported by the hanger. A garment transportation and support device comprises opposed garment engaging arms that pivot outwardly to securely support a garment.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/280,245 for “Manual Transportation of Articles” filed Oct. 24, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/136,382 for “Manual Transportation of Articles” filed Jun. 10, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/368,873 filed Mar. 6, 2008, which claims priority based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/659,248, filed Mar. 7, 2005, wherein each of these applications is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure generally relates to systems for manual transportation of articles. 
     BACKGROUND 
     When pants are cleaned by a laundry or dry cleaning service, they are traditionally returned hung over a clothes hanger having a cardboard garment support tube. If the pants, shorts, skirts, scarves, and linens are left on the clothes hanger for an extended period of time, a crease is formed at the point where the pants engage the garment support tube. Further, the cardboard support tube traditionally has a light adhesive coating that retains the pants on the hanger. The coating, however, can adversely affect delicate fabrics and eventually damage the article and degrade the appearance thereof. Clothing is also returned by a laundry or dry cleaning service supported on a plurality of hangers. Often times, the plurality of hangers is awkward to handle at best and impossible to support from the small coat hooks typically found in automobiles. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure generally may provide for use in conjunction with a conventional clothes hanger of the type comprising a nominally horizontally disposed garment support rod, a pneumatically activated flexible member supported on the support rod of the hanger and extending downwardly therefrom for expanding garments supported by the hanger and thereby preventing wrinkling of the garments. 
     Other embodiments of the present disclosure may provide an article transportation and storage device comprising a pair of substantially horizontally disposed opposed arms having pivotally connected proximal ends extending in opposite directions, each of the opposed having garment engaging teeth at the distal end thereof, a normally vertically disposed hook positioned above and substantially aligned with the pivotal connection between the opposed arms, and a lever system connected between the hook and the opposed arms for pivoting the arms upwardly and outwardly responsive to the application of weight thereto. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a clothes hanger comprising a first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a clothes hanger comprising a variation of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a clothes hanger comprising a second embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the clothes hanger of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a portion of the clothes hanger of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a garment transportation and storage device comprising a third embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a garment transportation and storage device comprising an alternative version of the third embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view further illustrating the garment transportation and storage device of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a front view illustrating a first orientation of the garment transportation and storage device of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a front view similar to  FIG. 8  illustrating a second orientation of the garment transportation and storage device of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a left side view of the garment transportation and storage device of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a right side view of the garment transportation and storage device of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a diagrammatic view illustrating a first utilization of the garment transportation and storage device of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a diagrammatic view illustrating a second utilization of the garment transportation and storage device of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a diagrammatic view illustrating a third utilization of the garment transportation and storage device of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a front view of a clothes hanger comprising a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 17  is a side view of the clothes hanger of  FIG. 16 ; 
         FIG. 18  is a front view of a garment transportation and storage device comprising a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure in which the garment transportation and storage device is shown in its folded configuration; 
         FIG. 19  is a side view of the garment transportation and storage device of  FIG. 18 ; 
         FIG. 20  is a diagrammatic view illustrating a first utilization of the garment transportation and storage device of  FIG. 18 ; and 
         FIG. 21  is a diagrammatic view illustrating a second utilization of the garment transportation and storage device of  FIG. 18 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the Drawings, and particularly to  FIG. 1  thereof, there is shown clothes hanger  10  comprising a first embodiment of the present disclosure. Clothes hanger  10  comprises conventional clothes hanger  12  including a length of wire  14  comprising upper hook portion  16  extending to twisted portion  18  which in turn extends to a pair of downwardly and outwardly extending arms  20  terminating in support members  22 . Cardboard garment support tube  24  extends between support members  22  and is supported thereby. 
     As is well known, utilization of hanger  10  and similar clothes hangers in the transportation and storage of garments incorporates inherent difficulties. First, cardboard garment support tube  24  defines a relatively small diameter garment support surface which tends to form creases in garments supported thereon for even a short period of time. Second, cardboard support tube  24  is frequently provided with a light adhesive coating which can damage delicate fabrics and can also damage more durable fabrics if supported on clothes hanger  10  over an extended period of time. 
     In accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure, soft sponge rubber tube  26  is received on and supported by cardboard tube  24 . Soft sponge rubber tube  26  substantially increases the effective diameter of the garment support surface of hanger  10  thereby substantially decreasing the probability that garments supported thereon will be creased. Additionally, soft sponge rubber tube  26  does not require a light adhesive coating as does cardboard tube  24 , thereby eliminating the possibility of damage to garments supported on hanger  10  due to contact thereof with the light adhesive coating which is typically provided on the exterior surface on cardboard tube  24 . 
     For example, the cardboard garment support tube of a typical clothes hanger has an outside diameter of about ½ inch. The soft sponge rubber tube of the present disclosure has an outside diameter of about 1.25 inches. Thus, the effective diameter of the garment support surface of the hanger of the present disclosure is 2½ times as large as the effective diameter of the garment support surface of a conventional clothes hanger. 
     Soft sponge rubber tube  26  is provided with radial slit  28  that extends the entire length of tube  26  thereby facilitating deployment of tube  26  over cardboard tube  24 . The opposite ends of slit  28  comprising tube  26  may be provided with lengths of double-sided adhesive tape  30  whereby the ends of slit  28  are secured against opening during utilization of hanger  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown clothes hanger  40  comprising a variation of clothes hanger  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Many of the component parts of clothes hanger  40  are substantially identical in construction and function to component parts of hanger  10 . Such identical components parts are designated on  FIG. 2  with the same reference numerals utilized above in the description of clothes hanger  10  but are differentiated therefrom by means of a prime (′) designation. 
     Clothes hanger  40  differs from clothes hanger  10  in that, rather than being provided with a soft sponge rubber tube surrounding cardboard tube  24 ′, clothes hanger  40  is provided with tube  42  comprising a roll of fabric secured in place by adhesive layer  44 . The function of tube  42  is to substantially increase the effective diameter of the clothing support surface of hanger  40 . In this manner, the likelihood that garments supported by clothes hanger  40  will be creased during utilization thereof is substantially reduced. Additionally, tube  42  does not require use of a light adhesive coating as is frequently required in the use of cardboard tube  24 , thereby further diminishing the possibility of damage to garments supported by clothes hanger  40 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 , there is shown clothes hanger  50  comprising a second embodiment of the present disclosure. Clothes hanger  50  comprises a plastic frame  52  having metal hook  54  extending upwardly therefrom. Metal support rod  56  extends between and is supported on the opposite ends of plastic frame  52 . A pair of wings  58  is supported on support rod  56  for longitudinal movement therealong. Each wing  58  is provided with spring-loaded clip  60  that functions to secure the wing at a predetermined location along support rod  56  depending upon the requirements of particular applications of the present disclosure. 
     Because wings  58  are movable inwardly and outwardly on rod  56 , hanger  50  is adapted for use with garments comprising a wide range of sizes, for example, from size 2 through and including size 20. The inward and outward movement of wings  58  allows hanger  50  to support garments thereon with no tension or stretching. 
     In the utilization of hanger  50 , plastic wings  58  are moved outwardly until the end surfaces  62  thereof engage interior surfaces of a skit, a pair of shorts, or other garment. In use, wings  58  function to secure a garment on hanger  50  during transportation and storage of the garment. More importantly, wings  58  function to prevent damage to the garment during transportation and support thereof on hanger  50 . The use of hanger  50  facilitates support and transportation of garments with no marking, no clip mark, or other damage as is sometimes experienced in the use of conventional clothes hangers. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , there is shown garment transportation and storage device  70  comprising a third embodiment of the present disclosure. Device  70  comprises length of wire  72  that is formed into support hook  74  at the upper end thereof. The length of wire  72  extends downwardly from hook  74  through central portion  76 . At the lower end of device  70 , a length of wire  77  is bent into a triangular configuration  78  thus providing hanger support rod  80 . Hook  74  is rotatably connected to support rod  80 . 
     Ball-shaped handle  82  is secured around the central section  76  of the length of wire  72 , it being understood that other handle configurations can be utilized in the practice of the present disclosure. Handle  82  may comprise a unitary construction formed from molded plastic or molded rubber. Alternatively, handle  82  may comprise a two-part construction that snaps together around the central portion  72  of the length of wire  72  as shown. 
     In use, garment transportation and storage device  70  is employed to receive garments from a laundry or dry cleaner. Garments supported on conventional hangers of the type utilized by laundries and dry cleaners are supported on support rod  80  by engaging the hooks of the hangers therewith in the conventional manner. After the hangers that support all of the garments received from a particular laundry or dry cleaner are engaged with support rod  80 , handle  82  is utilized to transport device  70  and the garments supported thereby, for example, from the laundry or dry cleaners to a vehicle. At that point, hook  74  of device  70  is utilized to support device  70  and the garments supported thereby from the coat hanger of the vehicle. Another important use of device  70  is the transportation of garments supported on hangers from a laundry or dry cleaners to a residence in crowded urban areas such as New York City. 
     Upon arrival at a particular designation, device  70  is utilized to transport the garments supported by the support rod  80  to a storage location for example, a closet. Once again, the handle is utilized to facilitate lifting and carrying the garments supported on support rod  80 . Hook  72  may be utilized to support the garments on a closet rod or the like while the garments are being individually disengaged from support rod  80 . Thereafter, the garments are preferably disengaged from the hangers utilized by the laundry or the dry cleaners to deliver garments to customers and are transferred to hangers comprising the present invention, for example, the hangers shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , inclusive, hereof. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 through 16 , inclusive, the present disclosure further comprises an alternative version of garment transportation and storage device  70  illustrated in  FIG. 6  and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. Referring to  FIG. 7 , article transportation and storage device  86  comprises an inverted U-shaped frame  88  comprising spaced apart downwardly extending legs and a handle extending between and connecting the legs. Aligned apertures  90  extend through the distal ends of the legs. Article support rod  92  is slidably received in apertures  90  for support by frame  88 . As is shown in  FIG. 8 , rod  92  is adapted for disengagement from frame  88  to facilitate its engagement with or disengagement from articles transported by article transportation and storage device  86 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 through 13 , inclusive, frame  88  of article transportation and storage device  86  has slot  94  formed in the upper portion thereof. Hook  96  is pivotally supported on frame  88  and extends into slot  94 . Referring particularly to  FIG. 9 , hook  96  is adapted for pivotal movement relative to frame  88  in the manner indicated by arrow  88 .  FIG. 10  shows hook  96  in its fully retracted orientation to facilitate use of the handle comprising V-shaped frame  88  in the transportation of articles.  FIG. 8  illustrates the utilization of hook  96  to support article transportation and storage device  86  and articles supported thereby from a closet rod CR or similar structure. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates the use of article transportation and storage device  86  in the transportation of a plurality of hanger-borne clothes from a first location such as a retail store, a dry cleaner, a laundry, etc. to a second location such as a residence, an office, or other location selected by the owner and user of article transportation and storage device  86 . 
       FIG. 14  illustrates the use of article storage and transportation device  86  in the transportation of articles other than clothing. In particular,  FIG. 14  illustrates the support and transportation of a pair of plastic bags that in turn support and transport a plurality of individual articles. The disengageability of support rod  92  from frame  88  of article transportation and storage device  86  is particularly advantageous when engaging device  86  with and disengaging device  86  from articles such as those illustrated in  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 15  illustrates article transportation and storage device  86  utilized to support a plurality of hanger-borne articles from a closet rod CR or other structure. 
       FIGS. 16 and 17  illustrate clothes hanger  100  comprising a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. The upper portion of clothes hanger  100  comprises conventional plastic clothes hanger  102  that includes plastic frame  104 , metal hook  106  adapted to support clothes hanger  100  on a closet rod and metal clothing support rod  108  extending between the opposed legs comprising plastic frame  104 . 
     Inflatable garment protecting device  110  is supported on rod  108  and is provided with inflation/deflation port  112  including stopper  114  adapted to retain garment protection device  110  in its inflated configuration. 
     As is well known, garments supported from a hanger, such as hanger  102  illustrated in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , for an extended period of time become wrinkled and misshapen. In accordance with the present disclosure, garment protection  110  is inflated by disengaging stopper  114  and blowing through port  112  until garment protection device  110  includes inflated portion  116 , which assumes the inflated configuration illustrated in  FIGS. 16 and 17 . Thereafter stopper  114  is re-engaged with port  112  to prevent deflation of garment protection device  110 . 
     When inflated, garment protection device  110  functions to expand garments supported by hanger  102 . In this manner, the garments are retained in an expanded condition, which eliminates the problem of garments becoming wrinkled and misshapen when they are hung from a conventional hanger. 
       FIGS. 18 through 21 , inclusive, illustrate clothes hanger  120  comprising a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. Clothes hanger  120  comprises a pair of opposed arms  122  and  124  having proximal ends that are pivotally connected to one another at  126 . The distal ends of arms  122  and  124  are provided with garment engaging teeth  128 . Metal support hook  130  extends to connecting block  132 . A pair of control arms  134  and  136  is pivotally connected to block  132  at  138  and is pivotally connected to arms  122  and  124 , respectively, at  140  and  142 , respectively. 
       FIG. 20  illustrates garment transportation device  120  utilized to support and transport a garment G 1  that may comprise a skirt or pair of slacks. Teeth  128  of garment transportation device  120  engage the interior surfaces comprising the waistband WB of the garment G 1 . As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the weight of the garment G 1  tends to pull arms  122  and  124  downwardly. However, because arms  122  and  124  are connected to garment support member  130  by block  132  and arms  134  and  136 , any downward movement of arms  122  and  124  causes outward movement of the distal ends thereof, thereby forcing teeth  128  into firm gripping engagement with the interior surface of the waistband WB of the garment G 1 . In this manner, the garment G 1  is firmly secured on garment transportation device  120  during both transportation and storage thereof. 
       FIG. 21  illustrates garment transportation device  120  utilized to transport and support a garment G 2  comprising a jacket or a dress. Once again, the weight of the G 2  tends to pull arms  122  and  124  downwardly. However, because arms  122  and  124  are secured to garment support member  130  by block  132  and arms  134  and  136 , any downward movement of arms  122  and  124  caused by the weight of garment G 2  causes arms  122  and  124  to pivot outwardly, thereby securely retaining the garment G 2  on garment transportation device  120 . 
     Although preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.