Patent Publication Number: US-7222761-B1

Title: Hanger apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to adjustable clothes hangers and more particularly pertains to a new hanger apparatus for allowing garments of various sizes to be hung up with out being stretched. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The use of adjustable clothes hangers is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,019 describes a device for extending the shoulder pads outwardly from the support arms to support garments to be hung on the hanger. Another type of adjustable clothes hanger is U.S. Pat. No. 6,409,058 having a pair of movable arms that are extendable from a medial portion to accommodate garments of different sizes. U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,174 has a pair of V-shaped connectors that are connected to a V-shaped hanging member with the connectors being adjustable with respect to hanging member to accommodate garments of different sizes. 
   While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that has certain improved features to provide stability in the hanger when larger garments are placed on the hanger. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention meets the needs presented above by providing extension assemblies that are operationally coupled to the arm members and are not part of the arm members thereby allowing the arm members to maintain the strength of the arm members. 
   Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new hanger apparatus that has enlarged extension members to spread the weight of the garment over a greater area to inhibit the garment being stretched by the extension members. 
   To this end, the present invention generally comprises a hook member being designed for selectively engaging a hanging member whereby the hook member is suspended from the hanging member. A pair of arm members are coupled to the hook member whereby the arm members are suspended from the hanging member when the hook member engages the hanging member. The arm members are designed for being positioned in one of the garments to allow the garment to be suspended from the hanging member. Each of a pair of extension assemblies engages one of the arm members whereby each of the extension assemblies selectively extends beyond the associated one of the arm members to accommodate garments of a larger size. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a new hanger apparatus according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along line  3 — 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along line  4 — 4  of  FIG. 2 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 4  thereof, a new hanger apparatus embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
   As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the hanger apparatus  10  generally comprises a hook member  11  being designed for selectively engaging a hanging member whereby the hook member  11  is suspended from the hanging member. 
   A pair of arm members  12  are coupled to the hook member  11  whereby the arm members  12  are suspended from the hanging member when the hook member  11  engages the hanging member. The arm members  12  are designed for being positioned in one of the garments to allow the garment to be suspended from the hanging member. 
   Each of a pair of extension assemblies  13  engage one of the arm members  12  whereby each of the extension assemblies  13  selectively extends beyond the associated one of the arm members  12  to accommodate garments of a larger size. 
   Each of the extension assemblies  13  comprises a base member  14  and an extension member  15 . The base member  14  is coupled to the associated one of the arm members  12 . The extension member  15  operationally engages the base member  14  and the associated one of the arm members  12  whereby the extension member  15  is selectively positioned along a length of the associated one of the arm members  12  whereby the extension member  15  is designed for supporting garments of a larger size. 
   The extension member  15  of each of the extension assemblies  13  comprises a support portion  16  and a guide portion  17  the support portion  16  is coupled to the guide portion  17  whereby the support portion  16  extends upwardly from the guide portion  17 . The guide portion  17  slidably engages the associated one of the arm members  12  whereby the guide portion  17  is selectively slid along a length of the associated one of the arm members  12  to allow adjustment of the extension member  15  to accommodate one of the garments. The support portion  16  is designed for supporting one of the garments when the arm members  12  are positioned in one of the garments. 
   Each of the arm members  12  comprises an upper portion  18  and a lower portion  19 . The upper portion  18  is coupled to the lower portion  19  whereby the upper portion  18  extends outwardly from the lower portion  19 . The guide portion  17  of the extension member  15  extends around the upper portion  18  of the associated one of the arm members  12  to inhibit the extension member  15  from inadvertently disengaging the associated one of the arm members  12  when the extension member  15  is slid along the associated one of the arm members  12 . 
   The base member  14  of each of the extension assemblies  13  comprises a stanchion portion  20  and a receiver portion  21 . The stanchion portion  20  is coupled to the associated one of the arm members  12 . The receiver portion  21  is coupled to the stanchion portion  20  whereby the receiver portion  21  is positioned opposite the associated one of the arm members  12 . The receiver portion  21  slidably receives the support portion  16  of the extension member  15  of the associated one of the extension assemblies  13 . The receiver portion  21  is for maintaining alignment of the extension member  15  with the associated one of the arm members  12  when the extension member  15  is slid along the associated one of the arm members  12 . 
   The base member  14  of each of the extension assemblies  13  comprises a plurality of teeth  22 . The teeth  22  are coupled to the receiver portion  21 . The extension member  15  of each of the extension assemblies  13  comprises at least one pawl  23 . The pawl  23  of the extension member  15  is selectively positioned between the teeth  22  of the base member  14  of the associated one of the extension assemblies  13  to inhibit inadvertent sliding of the extension member  15  with respect to the base portion of the associated one of the extension assemblies  13 . 
   In use, the user grips the extension member  15  of the extension assemblies  13  and slides them with respect to the associated one of the arm members  12  to match the shoulder width of the garment to be hung up. The user then slides the arm members  12  into the garment to be hung up so that the extension member  15  of each of the extension assemblies  13  in positioned under the shoulder of the garment being hung up. The hook member  11  is then engaged to the hanging member, such as a closet rod, to allow the garment member to hang from the arm members  12  and the extension assemblies  13 . 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.