Patent Publication Number: US-2016235232-A1

Title: Hanger carrying device

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/115,212, titled “Hanger Carrying Device,” filed on Feb. 12, 2015, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a hanger carrying device. 
     BACKGROUND DISCUSSION 
     Garments on hangers sometime need to be carried from one location to another. For example, a customer needs to carry cleaned shirts, suits, or dresses from a cleaner to his or her car. In cities, a customer often carries cleaned clothes from a cleaner to his or her apartment. Even when flying from one city to another, a traveler still needs to carry clothes before boarding and during ground transportation. Using fingers to carry clothes on hangers, even for several minutes, can be a quite uncomfortable task, especially when heavy clothes are on the hangers or when the hook of the hangers is very thin. In general, the hook of a hanger, which is typically wire-shaped, exerts high pressure to a small area of fingers, thus creating discomfort and forcing a carrier to switch holding positions from time to time. 
     SUMMARY 
     This application generally relates to an adapter device to which hangers of clothes can be attached, allowing easy transport. The adapter device includes a securing mechanism at one side and a contoured handle grip on the other. The adapter device is configured to place one or more hangers into the securing mechanism. The handle grip may be adjustable and have a variable position relative to the securing mechanism, thus allowing the user to hold the clothes in multiple positions, such as vertically, horizontally, or in an over-the-shoulder position. 
     According to an aspect, the present application is directed to a hanger carrying device comprising a handle attached to a hanger securing mechanism by a connecting mechanism. The handle is configured to have a four-finger conforming configuration. The hanger securing mechanism includes two hinged bar members with a locking mechanism and is configured to lock each hanger in a relative fixed position. 
     According to an embodiment, each bar member includes an anti-slip layer. 
     According to another embodiment, the locking mechanism is a U-shaped latch. 
     According to yet another embodiment, the connecting mechanism includes a rope and a protective layer that surrounds the rope. 
     According an aspect, the present application is directed to a hanger carrying device comprising a handle attached to a hanger hub. The hanger hub includes a first part having a bar member for supporting a plurality of hangers and a second part having an inner lip. The inner lip is configured to engage the bar member. 
     According to an embodiment, the hanger hub has a substantially circular configuration. 
     According to another embodiment, the first part of the hanger hub has a circular angle between 210 and 300 degrees. 
     According to yet another embodiment, the first part and the second part are connected by a hinge. 
     According to yet another embodiment, the hanger carrying device further comprises a plurality of hangers having a fully looped part that is supported by the bar member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       To accomplish the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative embodiments of the invention are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These embodiments are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed and the present invention is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages, embodiments and novel features of the invention may become apparent from the following description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings. The following description, given by way of example, but not intended to limit the invention solely to the specific embodiments described, may best be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a hanger carrying device  100  carrying a plurality of hangers according to an embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the hanger carrying device  100  in an open position according to an embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 3( a )  shows a side view of the hanger carrying device  100  where the locking mechanism (C) is in an open position according to an embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 3( b )  shows a side view of the hanger carrying device  100  where a locking mechanism (C) is in a closed position according to an embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 4( a )  shows a perspective view of a hanger carrying device  400  according to an embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 4( b )  shows a side view of the hanger carrying device  400  according to an embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 4( c )  shows a top view of the hanger carrying device  400  according to an embodiment of the present application. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It is noted that in this disclosure, terms such as “comprises,” “comprised,” “comprising,” and the like can have the meaning attributed to it in U.S. patent law; that is, they can mean “includes,” “included,” “including,” “including, but not limited to” and the like, and allow for elements not explicitly recited. Terms such as “consisting essentially of” and “consists essentially of” have the meaning ascribed to them in U.S. patent law; that is, they allow for elements not explicitly recited, but exclude elements that are found in the prior art or that affect a basic or novel characteristic of the invention. Embodiments of the present invention are disclosed or are apparent from and encompassed by, the following description. 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a hanger carrying device  100  according to an embodiment of the present application. The hanger carrying device  100  comprises a securing mechanism  104  for securing a plurality of hangers  102  to be carried, a handle  106 , and a connecting mechanism  108  connecting the handle  106  with the securing mechanism  104 . 
     The securing mechanism  104  is configured to secure the plurality of hangers  102 . According to an embodiment, the securing mechanism  104  has a clamp-like configuration that is formed by two members (A) attached with each other via a hinge (H) at a first end. At the other end, a locking mechanism (C) is used to keep the clamp configuration in a closed position. When a plurality of hangers  102  need to be placed inside the securing mechanism  104 , the locking mechanism (C) disengages one member (A) so that two members (A) are allowed to pivot around the hinge (H) to form an opening between the two members (A), as shown in  FIG. 2 . After the plurality of hangers are placed inside the securing mechanism  104 , the locking mechanism (C) engages with both members (A), causing the securing mechanism  104  to close. 
     According to an embodiment, the securing mechanism  104  is preferred to have adequate strength such that the securing mechanism  104  is capable of carrying several garments. For example, two bar members that are made of plastic or wood and are approximately 4 inches long, ½ inch wide, and ½ inch high may be used to form the securing mechanism  104 . To prevent the hangers  102  from moving around after they are placed inside the securing mechanism  104 , the hanger carrying device  100  further includes anti-friction means in the securing mechanism  104 . According to an embodiment, soft or moldable layers (R), such as foam or rubber pads, are attached to the two members (A). The two layers (R) face each other and contact each other when the securing mechanism  104  is in a closed position. These additional layers (R) not only prevent hangers from slipping along the gaps between two members (A), but also protect hooks of the hangers from being accidentally snapped. According to an embodiment, the thickness of either layer is between 0 inch to the diameter of the wire that makes the hook portion of a hanger or is between one fourth to three fourths of that diameter or is about half of that diameter. 
     According to an embodiment, the locking mechanism (C) represents a latch, which has a U shaped body and pivots around the hinge (E). Any other mechanisms may be used as the locking mechanism in the device  100  as long as they are capable of securing the members (A) in a closed position. 
     The handle  106  is configured to provide a comfortable grip for the hand of a carrier. According to an embodiment, the handle  106  is contoured internally to a four finger configuration, which makes it easy to hold. The handle  106  and the securing mechanism  104  are connected with each other via a connecting mechanism  108 . The connecting mechanism  108  is preferably flexible or semi-rigid so that it is capable of conforming to a body contour of a carrier. Ropes, belts, and chains may be used as the connecting mechanism  108 . According to an embodiment, the connecting mechanism  108  is formed by a rope with a protective surrounding tube. For example, like a jump rope, the connecting mechanism  108  may have a cord (S) housed inside a plurality of cylindrical drums (D) that provide greater contact areas with the body of a carrier. The securing mechanism  104  may provide a plurality of attachment positions  110  to the connecting mechanism  108 . The plurality of attachment positions  110  may be in the form of a plurality of perforations in the bar member (A) in the bar member (A). 
       FIG. 2  shows the hanger carrying device  100  in an open position according to an embodiment of the present application. In the open position, the locking mechanism (C) is disengaged from the upper member of the securing mechanism, thus allowing hangers to be removed from the securing mechanism  104 . A side view of the hanger carrying device  100  in an open position is shown in  FIG. 3( a ) . A side view of the hander carrying device  100  in a closed position is shown in  FIG. 3( b ) . 
       FIG. 4  shows a second embodiment of a hanger carrying device. The hanger carrying device  400  includes a handle  402  connected to a hanger hub  404 . The hanger hub  404  has a general disk-like appearance that is configured to support a plurality of hangers  416  on a bar member  412  provided at the lower portion of the hanger hub  404 . The overall configuration of the hanger hub  404  may be any shape that is lack of sharp edges. According to an embodiment, the hanger hub  404  has a substantial circular configuration when viewed from the top. According to another embodiment, the hanger hub  404  has a substantial elliptical configuration when viewed from the top. 
     The hanger hub  404  has a first part  406  attached to a second part  408  via a hinge  410 . The second part  408  is capable of pivoting around the hinge  410 , thus opening or closing the hanger hub  404 . When in an open position as shown in  FIG. 4( c ) , hangers are allowed to be put onto the bar members  412 . When in a close position as shown in  FIG. 4( a ) , the first part  406  and the second part  408  are in contact with each other, thus preventing hangers from falling off the bar members  412 . The handle  402  is attached to the top surface of the first part  406 . Each of the first part  406  and the second part  408  represents a predetermined portion of the overall circular or elliptical configuration of the hanger hub  404 . The first part  406  which connects with the handle  402  is preferably to be larger than the second part  408 . According to an embodiment, the first part  406  and the second part  408  may be viewed to be separated by a predetermined line between the hinge  410  and a separation point  424 . The size of the first part  406  may be characterized by an angle  420  that is between a first line linking the hinge  410  and the center  422  and a second line linking the center  422  and the separation point  424 . According to an embodiment, the angle  420  is at least 180°, preferably between 210° and 330°, or preferably between 240° and 300° or around 270°. 
     The first part  406  is provided with a bar member  412  for supporting the hangers  416 . According to an embodiment, the bar member  412  may be an integral part of the first part  406  without any additional attachment mechanism. For example, when the first part  406  is made by plastic molding, the bar member  412  and the first part  406  are formed together during the molding process. According to an embodiment, the bar member  412  is a separate part that is attached to the first part  406 . For example, the bar member may be made of alloy or wood to have higher mechanical integrity and is attached to the first part  406  by any suitable attachment means including glues and screws. 
     The second part  408  also includes an inner lip  414  configured to engage one end of the bar member  412  that is provided in the first part  406 , thus providing additional mechanical strength to the bar member  412 . Without the inner lip  414 , the bar member  412  represents a cantilever beam that has one end attached to the second part  406  and has the other end unsupported. With the use of the inner lip  414 , both ends of the bar member  412  are supported. The inner lip  414  also prevents hangers  416  from falling out of the hanger hub  404 . According to an embodiment, the inner lip  414  has a locking mechanism that mates a counter part on the bar member  412  to keep the second part  408  in a closed position. According to an embodiment, both the first part  406  and the second part  408  have a magnetic portion or layer at where they contact with each other so that the first part  406  and the second part  408  are held together by the magnetic force in a closed position. The magnetic portion may be disposed in the inner lip  414  and the bar member  412  or may be disposed in a separate location. According to another embodiment, the first part  406  and the second part  408  are secured to each other by a hook and loop mechanism such as Velcro. 
     According to an embodiment, the hanger carrying device  400  may be used with regular hangers that use hooks to hang on the bar member  412 . According to an embodiment, the hanger carrying device  400  may use specifically designed hangers, forming a 2-in-1 hanger combination. For example, both the specific designed hangers and the hanger carrying device  400  are provided to customers as one product. According to an embodiment, hangers  416 , which have a fully closed “loop” portion  418  that can be wrapped around the bar member  412  within the hanger carrying device  400 , may be used. An advantage of this type of system is that the hanger is more secure. This can be done with a fixed configuration (i.e. one hanger for a suit for example) or with a swinging door with a hinge to allow the user to add multiple hangers. 
     The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the invention may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the paragraphs below. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the invention. Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.