Abstract:
A hanger for clothing is reinforced by an insert existing substantially or entirely inside the center space of the hanger defined by the outer, typically generally triangular, hanger frame. The insert is fixed, secured, or otherwise semi-permanently or permanently connected to the hanger frame at 3 or more places. The preferred places are 3 places, of which two are on the larger lower part of the frame, or one each on the two smaller, upper parts of the frame. Also, the reinforcing insert comprises an image, so the insert serves both a strengthening function and an aesthetic function.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/086,009, filed Dec. 1, 2014, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by this reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Disclosed Technology 
         [0003]    This invention relates generally to clothes hangers, and more specifically to strong, heavy-duty coat hangers for hanging heavy coats and jackets, for example. Preferred versions have a reinforcement insert that connects at multiple places to the outer, perimeter frame of the hanger, preferably at inner surface locations of the outer frame. Preferred inserts are entirely, or optionally comprise, an interior (within the frame of the hanger) image of an object, person or person head, vehicle, plant or plant flower, animal or animal head, building, company or team or school logo, landscape, craftsman&#39;s or workmen&#39;s or labor union&#39;s symbol, or other natural or man-made object, for example. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    Some exemplary relevant documents include: 
         [0006]    U.S. Design Pat. No. D290,190 (Stolarz) discloses an ornamental design for a luggage hanger with a rotatable hook and a clip on each end of the hanger. 
         [0007]    U.S. Design Pat. No. D323,070 (Anderson et al.) discloses an ornamental design for a garment hanger with a panel in its center. 
         [0008]    U.S. Design Pat. No. D504,577 (Mann) discloses an ornamental design for a heavy-duty hanger with a straight, vertical, internal part on each end of the hanger. 
         [0009]    U.S. Design Pat. No. D591,058 (Patel &#39;058) discloses an ornamental design for a clothes hanger with a circular, internal part on each end of the hanger. 
         [0010]    U.S. Design Pat. No. D591,059 (Patel &#39;059) discloses an ornamental design for a clothes hanger with an arched, internal part extending from one end of the hanger to the other end. 
         [0011]    U.S. Design Pat. No. D591,060 (Patel &#39;060) discloses an ornamental design for a clothes hanger with a combination, angled and straight, vertical, internal part on each end of the hanger. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 8,444,029 (Ferraro et al.) discloses a reinforced hanger with parallel upper and lower crossbars, the upper crossbar having both upper and lower reinforcement sections, each reinforcement section having a rib. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0013]    The disclosed device is a hanger for clothing or other objects, wherein the hanger is reinforced by an insert existing substantially or entirely inside the center/interior space of the hanger defined by the inner surface of the outer, typically generally open, triangular hanger frame. The insert is preferably fixed, secured, or otherwise at least semi-permanently connected in a strengthening and supporting manner to the hanger frame at one or more locations, but preferably at least three locations, and in some embodiments at only three locations. Preferred inserts are entirely, or optionally comprise, an image of an object, person or person head, vehicle, plant or plant flower, animal or animal head, building, company or team or school logo, landscape, craftsman&#39;s or workmen&#39;s or labor union&#39;s symbol, or other natural or man-made object, for example. 
         [0014]    The insert is preferably generally centered within the hanger frame, so that most or all of the insert is visible when the hanger is in use including with a jacket or coat or other garment, for example, installed on the hanger. The connection points of the insert to the hanger frame may be, and preferably are substantially or entirely in some embodiments, connections of perimeter parts of said natural or man-made object image, for example, the tire perimeters of a motorcycle, the toes and/or hands/fingers of a person, a boot or shoe toe or heel of a boot or shoe for a person, horns of a cow&#39;s head, or other parts or pieces of the object image. Connection points include at least one, and preferably two or more separate connections, at the top side of the frame. Preferably top connections points are on both sides of the central hook, on one of two of the smaller top sides of the frame (see connections points D and E of hanger  10 ′ in  FIG. 4 , for example). Connections points preferably also include at least one and preferably two or more connection points on the larger, bottom side of the frame, preferably on both sides (to the left and the right) of the middle line ML generally extending through the hook (see connections points H and I of the hanger  10 ″ in  FIG. 8 , for example). The connection points may be small in size, meaning they are not wide bars or plates, but rather small pieces or parts of the natural or man-made image object, or the hanger frame, or glue, weld, or tacking material between the frame and the image object, for example, as in hangers  10 ,  10 ′,  10 ″,  100 ,  200 , and  300 . Or, one or more of the connections may be a wider connection, such as for the steer skull lower connection P (horizontally-extending connection area shown in dashed lines) that may be provided in addition to smaller, narrower connections points J, K, L, M, N and O in  FIG. 13 , for example. Thus, one may see that this type of reinforcement differs substantially from a hanger with crossbars, struts, or simple straight, angled or curved reinforcement members such as are disclosed in the prior art. 
         [0015]    The insert is preferably within the middle ½ (50%) of the width of the hanger, as shown in the drawings and explained by  FIG. 8 , and optionally within the middle 51-70%, or less preferably, within the entire width of the hanger. 
         [0016]    The reinforcement image insert is preferably substantially two-dimensional, and is substantially wider and taller than it is thick. The thickness may be on the order of a millimeter up to about 2 centimeters, for example, while the width and height will be several inches, for example, 2-6 inches, for example, for a conventional, triangle-shaped hanger. See the perspective views of the hangers in the drawings  FIGS. 1, 4, 9, 14, and 21 , and the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 7 . The insert is preferably metal, and preferably all or most of the hanger is also made of metal. Alternatively, the hanger may be made of other materials, for example, plastic or wood. The hanger perimeter frame may be solid, as in the case of a metal or plastic or wood rod. Or, the hanger perimeter frame may be hollow, as in the case of a metal or plastic or wood tube. The insert may be made by various means and connected to the frame by various means, which may include hydro-cutting of metal plate and welding of the insert to a metal hanger frame, for example. Alternatively, other fabrication means may be used, including methods where the insert is made separately and then installed permanently or semi-permanently in the frame, and methods wherein the insert is molded, for example, integrally with the hanger frame. 
         [0017]    Alternatively, the reinforcement insert may be a flat panel secured within or to the hanger frame. This flat panel, which may be solid/continuous or apertures, and may be transparent, translucent, or opaque, and which may be the same material as or a different material than, the frame, acts as a structural support, and may also accept stickers, decals, printing or painting, words and lettering, and/or other indicia to provide an image at least partly within the boundaries of the perimeter of the hanger frame. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective, side view of one hanger embodiment  10  of the disclosure, including an interior reinforcement motorcycle image within the perimeter of the hanger frame, wherein the connection points between the image and the frame are near the motorcycle headlight, and at portions of the front and back tires. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the hanger of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the hanger of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a perspective, side view of an alternative hanger embodiment  10 ′, showing the form of a female person in western cowgirl boots and cowgirl hat as an interior reinforcement image. The connection points within the perimeter of the hanger frame are the top of the woman&#39;s hat and the toe of one of her boots at the top side of the frame, and the sole of the other boot at the bottom side of the frame. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the hanger of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a rear view of the hanger of  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the hanger of  FIGS. 4-6 , viewed along the line  FIG. 7 - FIG. 7  in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a schematic front view of an alternative embodiment hanger  10 ″ with the width divided into an approximate left (L) ¼, an approximate right (R) ¼, and an approximate middle half (M½). The middle line ML is also shown, as is an example reinforcement image insert  22 ″ (for example, a flame, plant, leaf or flower) that is entirely contained within the middle half (M½). 
           [0026]      FIGS. 9 and 10  are perspective, side, and front views, respectively, of another alternative embodiment hanger  100 , with an example of added hanger elements, for example, a lower, depending rung and set of hooks for pants, belts, ties, etc. Thus, one may understand that the hanger may comprise a frame, hook, reinforcement insert, and optional other structure such as additional rungs and hooks, for example. 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a front view showing how another alternative embodiment  200  is formed so that at least a portion, and preferably about 50 up to 100 percent, of the reinforcement image insert is visible when the hanger is in use with a coat or jacket (assuming the garment is not zipped or buttoned all the way to the top). 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  is a front view of the hanger of  FIG. 11 , but without the garment. 
           [0029]      FIG. 13  is a front view of another alternative embodiment hanger  300 , which illustrates how additional image inserts may be located at the right and/or left of a central reinforcement image insert. Here, a large steer skull is in the central position, and two smaller steer skulls are nearer the right and left ends of the hanger. It is not necessary that the additional image inserts be reinforcing. 
           [0030]      FIG. 14  is a perspective, side view of another alternative embodiment hanger  400 , which illustrates a flat panel reinforcement insert including an image, the flat panel being secured within the interior space of the hanger frame. 
           [0031]      FIG. 15  is a front view of the hanger  400  of  FIG. 14 . 
           [0032]      FIGS. 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20  are, respectively, top, bottom, left side, right side, and back views of the hanger  400  of  FIGS. 14 and 15 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 21  is a perspective exploded view of the hanger  400  of  FIGS. 14-20 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 22  is a front view of another alternative embodiment hanger  500  with a different image in or on a central reinforcement panel. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0035]    Referring to the Figures, there are shown several embodiments, but not the only embodiments, of the subject hanger with interior reinforcement image insert(s). 
         [0036]      FIG. 1  depicts one embodiment  10  of the subject heavy-duty coat hanger with interior reinforcement image. Hanger  10  has a generally open, triangle-shaped perimeter frame  12  with two smaller top rod parts  14  and  14 ′ (the sides of the triangle), two end rod parts  16  and  16 ′, and one larger bottom rod part  18  (roughly the hypotenuse of the triangle). Hanger  10  has a top rod hook  20  extending upwardly from parts  14  and/or  14 ′. 
         [0037]    Within the open, interior space  13  of frame  12 , surrounded and defined by the inner surface  15  of the frame  12 , is interior reinforcement image  22 , in this case the silhouette of a motorcycle with apertures or openings cut or otherwise formed through its body and wheels. Motorcycle image  22  is secured to the inner perimeter/surface of frame  12  at three points—point A in top smaller rod part  14 , and points B and C in bottom larger rod part  18 . One effect of this type of securement of image  22  is to strengthen and further support frame  12 . Another effect is to provide an interesting image  22  at least within the inner perimeter/surface of frame  12 —that is, an interior image. These elements of  FIG. 1  are also shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0038]      FIGS. 4, 5 and 6  are like  FIGS. 1-3 , except interior reinforcement image  22 ′ of alternative embodiment hanger  10 ′, in this case, is the silhouette of a woman with a cowgirl hat and cowgirl boots received inside the interior space  13 ′ surrounded and defined by the inner surface  15  of the frame. Also, in this case three securement points are D in top smaller rod part  14 , E in top smaller rod part  14 ′ and F in bottom larger rod part  18 . These elements of  FIG. 4  are also shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view along line  FIG. 7 - FIG. 7  in  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 7  shows that interior reinforcement image  22 ′ is in the form of a relatively thin plate, compared to the thicker, solid round perimeter frame smaller rod parts  14  and larger rod part  18  of perimeter frame  12 . One may see the thinness of the insert and the cut-out portions that help form the image, which allows it to be called in many embodiments an “insert plate” with “cut-out features” or “perimeters and apertures forming/defining at least a part of the image”. Preferably, the entire insert thickness is contained within (not extending beyond) the front and back outermost extremities of the frame  12 . For example, if the hanger is set on a table, the frame  12  but preferably not the insert image  22 ′, will touch the table. 
         [0040]      FIG. 8  depicts another alternative embodiment hanger  10 ″ with interior reinforcement image  22 ″. Also depicted in  FIG. 8  are approximate left (L) ¼, approximate right (R) ¼, approximate middle half (M½) and middle line (ML) of hanger  10 ″. From this  FIG. 8 , it may be seen that interior reinforcement image  22 ″, attached to frame  12 ″ at connections points G, H, and I, extends substantially across the middle half (M½) of hanger  10 ″. 
         [0041]      FIG. 9  depicts in a perspective view another alternative embodiment hanger  100 . Hanger  100  has all the elements of hanger  10  depicted in  FIGS. 1-3 , plus downwardly depending, outwardly facing hooks  124  and  124 ′ secured to the ends of first lower frame perimeter rod part  118 , and second lower part  126  secured at each of its ends to the bottoms of both hooks  124  and  124 ′. This way, additional functionality is easily provided, relative to hanger  10 ,  10 ′ and  10 ″, namely, two hooks and an additional lower rung for receiving and supporting additional garments, for example. 
         [0042]    The hanger of  FIG. 10  has all the same elements as in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 11  depicts another alternative embodiment hanger  200  with interior reinforcement image  222  supporting garment  228 . From  FIG. 11  it may be seen that reinforcement image  222  may be visible, even when hanger  200  is supporting garment  228 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 12  depicts hanger embodiment  200  as in  FIG. 11 , but without garment  228 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 13  depicts alternative embodiment hanger  300  with central interior reinforcement image  322 , and additional interior images  330  and  330 ′ to the left and right, respectively, of central reinforcement image  322 . Central reinforcement image  322  is secured to the inner perimeter/surface of frame  312  at connections points J, K, and P, wherein connection P, for example, may be glue, welding, tacking or other fastener material or fastener(s) between the back of the image  322  and the front of the hanger frame, at one more locations or continuously along the dashed line area depicted as P. Interior image  330  is secured to frame  312  at connections points M and O. Interior image  330 ′ is secured to frame  312  at connections points L and N. From  FIG. 13  it may be seen that more than one interior image may be provided for one hanger. Also, it may be seen that a reinforcement image may extend beyond the outer boundary of the perimeter frame  312 , in this case. Note that the central insert is connected in two places at the horns, and at one lower location near the jaw. Note that the smaller steer skulls are connected only at two places, that is, one horn at the top side of the frame and the nose at the bottom side of the frame. Also note that the perimeter of the insert may extend beyond the boundary of the perimeter of the hanger frame, preferably below the lower boundary of the perimeter of the hanger frame so as to not interfere with the clothing shoulders or neck on the hanger. 
         [0046]      FIG. 14  depicts alternative embodiment hanger  400  with interior image  422  on interior reinforcement panel  432 . Panel  432  is secured to the inner perimeter/surface of the frame  412  of hanger  400  at three points Q, R and S. Optionally, frame  412  of hanger  400  has additional, conventional straight, vertical reinforcement struts  434  and  434 ′. 
         [0047]      FIGS. 15-20  are, respectively, front, top, bottom, left side, right side and back views of hanger  400 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 21  is a perspective, side exploded view of hanger  400 . The preferred panel  432  extends through the interior space portion  413  bounded by the inner perimeter/surface  415  of left and right upper parts and of the bottom part of the perimeter frame, and extending horizontally right and left to the struts  434 ,  434 ′. It may be understood that the struts  434 ,  434 ′ create compartmentalization of the interior space of the perimeter frame into end portions  417  in addition to the interior space portion  413 , so that the preferred panel  432  may extend horizontally to at or near the struts  434 ,  434 ′ but typically not horizontally past said struts in certain embodiments. This may be described as one of many embodiments wherein the panel extends throughout at least 75 percent, and here about 75-80 percent, of the entire interior space ( 413  plus  417 ). From FIG.  21  it may be seen that one way to secure panel  432  within perimeter frame  412  is to provide a screw  436  through panel  432  into a hole in a tab between perimeter frame top parts  414  and  414 ′ for connection point Q, and to provide a set of screws and clips  438  and  438 ′ onto frame lower part  418  for connections points R and S, respectively. Fasteners other than the set of screws and the J-shaped clips  438 ,  438 ′ may be used to secure panel  432  within perimeter frame  412 , for example, U-shaped and other clips, rivets, clamps, ties, straps, and other conventional fasteners. 
         [0049]      FIG. 22  depicts alternative embodiment  500 , which has a different interior image  522  on panel  532 . Panel  532  extends through the generally-triangular interior space  513  surrounded by and defined by the perimeter frame inner perimeter/surface  515 , reaching to at or near the frame inner perimeter/inner surface  515  all the way around the frame. Note that there are no struts or interior-region compartmentalizing structure inside this frame, so the panel  532  may extend across/throughout the entire, or substantially the entire, interior space  513 , for example, throughout 90-100 percent, or preferably 95-100 percent, or most preferably 98-100 percent, of the interior space  513 . 
         [0050]    Certain embodiments may be described as a heavy-duty garment hanger comprising: an outer perimeter frame of generally triangular shape, said perimeter frame having two smaller top parts and one larger bottom part, the two smaller top and one larger bottom parts being connected and secured together to define a generally triangularly-shaped interior space within said perimeter frame; an upstanding hook connected and secured to one or both of said two smaller top parts; a reinforcement insert within said triangularly-shaped interior space, said reinforcement insert being connected to said outer perimeter frame in a strengthening and supporting manner at three connection points, with two of said three connections points being on the one larger bottom part, or two of said three connections points being on one each of the two top smaller parts; wherein said reinforcement insert also comprising an image. The reinforcement insert may be a silhouette of an object image, for example. The object image may be approximately within the middle half of the horizontal width of said triangularly-shaped interior space, for example. Additional structure may be added to the hanger, for example, depending downwardly from said one larger bottom part, and said additional structure may be adapted to receive and support garments. Said additional structure may comprise additional hooks, and/or a lower rung depending downwardly from said larger bottom part. The object image may extend beyond the boundary of the outer perimeter frame in certain embodiments. A plurality of object images may be within the outer perimeter frame in certain embodiments. The reinforcement insert may be a flat panel adapted to receive object images in certain embodiments, and, for example, flat panel may be connected at one connection point to a tab connected to both smaller top parts, and in certain embodiments further connected at two connections points to the larger bottom part. The flat panel may be transparent, translucent, or opaque. The object image may in the form of a sticker, printed on the flat panel, or other decoration, images or indicia. In certain embodiments, apertures may be cut through the reinforcement insert/flat panel to form a silhouette, and the insert/flat panel may have an outer edge that is shaped to be an outer perimeter of the silhouette. In certain embodiments, the perimeter frame lies substantially in a frame plane and has an inner surface, and the insert/flat panel is selected from a group consisting of: A) an insert or flat panel that lies in a plane parallel to the frame plane and extends in, or generally in, that plane to within less than ½ inch (or within less than ¼ inch) of the inner surface all around the perimeter frame; and B) an insert or flat panel that lies in a plane parallel to the frame plane and has outer perimeter regions that touch the inner surface at said connections points and also has outer perimeter regions that are distanced at least 1 inch (or at least 2 inches, or at least 3 inches) from the inner surface. To illustrate the perimeter frame lying substantially in a frame plane and an insert or flat panel lying in a plane parallel to the frame plane, see the insert and frame in  FIG. 7 , and the flat panel and frame in  FIGS. 16-19 . One may see from these figures that the frame and insert and flat panel are all much wider and longer than thick, and so may be said to each generally lie in a plane and to be parallel. 
         [0051]    Although this disclosed technology has been described above with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosed technology is not limited to these disclosed particulars, but extends instead to all equivalents within the broad scope of this disclosure, including text, drawings and claims.