Patent Publication Number: US-8113393-B2

Title: Collapsible hook hanger

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/122,598 filed Dec. 15, 2008 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/042,990 filed Apr. 7, 2008, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to garment hangers and, more particularly, to garment hanger having a collapsible hook. 
     Garment hangers featuring metal hooks are well-known in the art. These hangers typically include a threaded boss located on the upper frame, the threaded boss receiving a threaded end of the metal hook. The body of the hanger is typically made of plastic. 
     Many garments that are manufactured oversees are pre-hung on a hanger, and then shipped to the United States as a hanger/garment combination. In other words, the garment is hung on the appropriate hanger at the manufacturing location (e.g., the Far East), packaged into a shipping box or container, and shipped to the United States. Upon delivery to the retail location, the retailer simply has to remove the pre-hung garments from the shipping box/container, and hang such pre-hung garments in the retail store. Thus, there is no need for the retailer to incur time and cost hanging the individual garments on individual hangers. 
     Although garments can be tightly packed within the mentioned packaging boxes/containers, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the hooks of the garment hangers take up a significant volume of space within such boxes/containers. This additional space, of course, translates into additional shipping costs. 
     There is therefore a need in the art for a garment hanger which in addition to functioning as a conventional garment hanger in a retail location, is also capable of providing a reduced footprint during packaging/transportation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention, which addresses the needs of the prior art, relates to a collapsible hook hanger. The hanger includes a hook having a threaded end. The hanger further includes a hanger body defining a plane P and including an upper edge. The hanger also includes a hook-receiving fixture extending from the edge. The fixture includes a substantially circular opening extending therethrough in a direction substantially perpendicular to plane P. The fixture also includes a guide slot extending along a substantial portion of at least one of the sides of the fixture and along at least a portion of the top of the fixture. The guide slot is in communication with the aperture. Finally, the hanger includes a substantially circular drum sized to be rotatably received within the opening of the fixture. The drum includes a threaded aperture sized to receive the threaded end of the hook when the threaded end is extended through the guide slot whereupon the drum is rotatably captured within the opening of the fixture and rotatable between a first upright position and a second folded position. 
     As a result, the present invention provides a garment hanger which functions and operates as a conventional garment hanger in a retail location, but is designed to allow the hook to move between an upright position and a folded position whereupon the folded position provides a reduced footprint during packaging/transportation of pre-hung garments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the hanger of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is another exploded perspective view of the hanger of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the hanger of  FIG. 1  with the hook oriented in the upright position; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged detail of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the hanger of  FIG. 1  with the hook oriented in its folded position; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged detail of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged detail showing the orientation of the drum when the hook is oriented in the upright position; 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged detail showing the orientation of the drum when the hook is located between the upright position and the folded position; and 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged detail showing the orientation of the drum when the hook is oriented in the folded position; and 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a crown sizer to be used in connection with the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 10  showing the crown sizer of  FIG. 10  installed about a second embodiment of the hook-receiving fixture; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the hanger of the present invention with the metal hook in a folded position; 
         FIG. 13  is a front elevation view of the hanger of  FIG. 12  with the hook in an upright position; 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of the hanger of  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 15  is an exploded perspective view of the hanger of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  16 - 16  of  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  17 - 17  of  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 18  is a detail of the hook-receiving fixture of  FIG. 12  showing the hook in its locked upright position; 
         FIG. 19  is another detail of the hook-receiving fixture of  FIG. 12  showing the hook in an upright position but in an unlocked state; and 
         FIG. 20  is still another detail of the hook-receiving feature of  FIG. 12  showing the hook rotated to the folded position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Hanger  10 , formed in accordance with the present invention, is shown in  FIGS. 1-9 . Hanger  10  includes a central body portion  12  defining a plane P, and a pair of opposing downwardly-depending arms  14 . In one preferred embodiment, hanger  10  is formed with an I-beam construction. In another preferred embodiment, hanger  10  includes a coordinate loop  16  for receiving the hook of a second hanger (not shown). 
     Hanger  10  includes a metal hook  18 , which is shown in an upright position in  FIG. 3  and in a folded position in  FIG. 5 . More particularly, hook  18  is rotatable between these two positions. When the hook is in the upright position, hanger  10  functions as a conventional garment hanger for supporting and displaying a garment. However, during transportation/shipping, hook  18  can be moved to the folded position to reduce the footprint of the hanger, and thus the overall size of the shipping box/container into which the garments are loaded. The reduction in size of the shipping box/container translates into reduced shipping costs. 
     Hanger  10  of the present invention includes a hook-receiving fixture  20  located along an upper edge  22  of body portion  12 . Hook-receiving fixture  20  includes a frame  24 , which is preferably integrally molded with edge  22 . Frame  24  includes a guide slot  26  sized to receive the lower portion of hook  18  therein. Fixture  20  further includes a circular drum  28  sized to be rotatably received within an opening  30  extending through frame  24 . After drum  28  has been positioned within opening  30 , tip  32  of hook  18  is inserted and/or threaded into an aperture  34  formed in drum  26 . Drum  28  is thereafter effectively retained within opening  30 . More particularly, drum  28  can rotate within opening  34  between the upright position shown in  FIG. 3 , and the folded position shown in  5 . 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a collapsible hook hanger will preferably include a locking mechanism which locks the hook of the hanger in an upright position during normal usage, and in a folded position during transportation/shipping. The novel arrangement of the components of the present invention provides a mechanism which is cost effective to manufacture, easy to assemble and which provides for the mentioned locking mechanism. This locking arrangement is best seen in  FIGS. 7-9 . In particular, frame  24  is formed with at least one rib  36 , while drum  28  is formed with a plurality of detents  38   a - 38   d . When the hook is in the upright position (as shown in  FIG. 7 ), rib  36  engages detent  38   a . The engagement of rib  36  within detent  38   a  locks hook  18  in the mentioned orientation. To move hook  18  to the folded position, sufficient pressure must be applied to overcome the engagement forces between rib  36  and detent  38   a  and move the hook to the position shown in  FIG. 8  (wherein rib  36  is positioned between detent  38   a  and  38   b ). Upon further rotation of the hook to the folded position shown in  FIG. 9 , rib  36  engages detent  38   b  thereby locking the hook in the folded position. 
     As discussed hereinabove, this folded state provides a reduced footprint for the hanger, thereby reducing the size of the packaging boxes/containers required to transport the garments positioned on the hangers. Once the hangers/garments reach the retail location, the garments/hangers are removed from the boxes/containers, and the hook is rotated from the folded position to the upright position. 
     In one preferred embodiment, frame  24  is formed with a second rib. This second rib may be included in applications where it is desirable to increase the locking force between the drum and the frame. More particularly, the addition of a second rib to frame  24  may be useful in applications where the end user is concerned about unwanted undesirable folding of the hook with respect to fixture  20 . Of course, it is contemplated herein that frame  24  can include a plurality of ribs which will engage a corresponding number of detents formed in the drum, or that the ribs/detents can be located at various positions on the frame/drum. It is also contemplated herein that the ribs/detents can take other forms and configurations. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, a locking mechanism may be formed within guide slot  26 , either in addition to or in place of the locking mechanism shown in  FIGS. 7-9 . More particularly, guide slot  26  may be formed with a width W which is less than the diameter of the lower portion hook  18 , and with an expanded region at each end thereof. This expanded region is sized to substantially correspond to the diameter of the lower portion of hook  18 . Accordingly, the first expanded region receives the lower portion of hook  18  when hook  18  is oriented in the upright position, while the second expanded region receives hook  18  while hook  18  is oriented in the folded position. To move the hook from the upright position to the folded position, sufficient pressure must be applied to push the lower portion of the hook out of the first expanded region into the narrow guide slot extending therebetween. Once the hook is rotated a sufficient distant, the lower portion of the hook passes out of the slot and into the second expanded region, thus locking the hook into the folded position. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 10-11 , a crown sizer  50  is sized and configured to mount about a second embodiment of the hook-receiving fixture, i.e., fixture  20 ′. Fixture  20 ′ is similar to fixture  20 , but for the addition of two opposing and outwardly-protruding projections, e.g., lips  52 . These lips are sized and located to cooperate with a pair of opposing shoulders  54  provided on the interior of opposing sidewalls  56 ,  58 . In one preferred embodiment, the lips are located on the exterior surfaces of fixtures  20 ′, and positioned along the upper edge in the substantial center thereof. As a result, once engaged with sizer  50 , the lips are thereby positioned in the substantial center of sidewalls  56 ,  58 . Such an arrangement facilitates installation because the center portion of sidewalls  56 ,  58  can be flexed more readily and to a greater degree (as the sizer is passed over the hook-receiving fixture) than other portions of the sizer. As best shown in  FIG. 10 , sidewall  60  is cut away to substantially correspond with guide slot  26  formed in the hook-receiving fixture. This of course allows hook  18  to move from the upright position to the folded position. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the locking interaction between lips  52  and shoulders  54  urges the bottom of the sizer into contact with upper edge  22 , thereby reducing “rattling” of the sizer on the hanger. The locking interaction between lips  52  and shoulders  54  also makes removal of the sizer from the hanger more difficult. In one preferred embodiment, the overall width W at the bottom of sizer  50  is selected to substantially correspond to width Z of upper edge  22 , thereby making it more difficult to “pry” the sizer off of the hanger while at the same time improving the overall aesthetics of the sizer/hanger combination. 
     In practice, sizer  50  is positioned over hook-receiving fixture  20 ′, and thereafter pushed downward about such fixture, whereby sidewalls  56 ,  58  flex slightly outward to allow shoulders  54  to travel past lips  52 . The upper portions  62  of lips  26  are preferably angled/beveled to facilitate installation. Once positioned, sidewalls  56 ,  58  of sizer  50  return to their unflexed state whereby shoulders  54  engage lower edges  62  of lips  52  thereby securing sizer  50  about fixture  20 ′. 
     Shoulders  54  are preferably formed by molding a notch  64  in each of sidewalls  56 ,  58 . The use of a generally rectangular notch to form shoulders  54  facilitates the molding operation associated with the manufacture of sizers  50 , e.g., by eliminating the need for a slide cam and allowing for easier mold modification. In other embodiments, the wall thickness may vary along the length of the notch and/or the notch may be formed with other geometric configurations. 
     Hanger  110 , formed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, is shown in  FIGS. 12-15 . Hanger  110  includes a central body portion  112  defining a plane Q, and a pair of opposing downwardly-depending arms  114 . In one preferred embodiment, hanger  110  is formed with an I-beam construction. In another preferred embodiment, hanger  110  includes a coordinate loop  116  for receiving the hook of a second hanger (not shown). 
     Hanger  110  includes a metal hook  118 , which is shown in a folded state in  FIG. 12 . More particularly, hook  118  is rotatable between the folded position shown in  FIG. 12  and the upright position shown in  FIGS. 13-14 . When the hook is in the upright position, hanger  110  functions as a conventional garment hanger for supporting and displaying a garment. However, during transportation/shipping, hook  118  can be moved to the folded position (see  FIG. 12 ) to reduce the footprint of the hanger, and thus the overall size of the shipping box/container into which the garments are loaded. The reduction in size of the shipping box/container translates into reduced shipping costs. 
     Hanger  110  of the present invention includes a hook receiving fixture  120  located along an upper edge  122  of body portion  112 . Referring now to  FIG. 15 , hook receiving fixture  120  includes a frame  124 , which is preferably integrally molded with edge  122 . Fixture  120  further includes a circular drum  126 , a threaded boss  128  and a spring  130 . These components are shown in an exploded format in  FIG. 15 . As best seen in  FIGS. 16-17 , threaded tip  132  of hook  118  is threaded into boss  128 . Boss  128  is sized for insertion within a lower opening  134  of drum  126 . Spring  130  is also sized to be positioned within lower opening  134 . When assembled, boss  128  extends through upper opening  136  of drum  126 . The completed assembly is positioned within frame  124 , and cover  138  is thereafter positioned over hook  118  and about frame  124 . 
     Cover  138  is configured to snap-fit about frame  124 , as best seen in  FIG. 16 . In particular, frame  124  preferably includes a pair of opposing tabs  140  ( FIG. 16 ) which snap into and engage corresponding recesses  142  ( FIG. 18 ) located within the walls of cover  138 . Cover  138  is thus retained in position over frame  124 , thereby securing drum  126  in rotatable engagement with frame  124 . Cover  138  further includes a slot  144  through which hook  118  extends. Slot  144  is sized to allow hook  118  to move from the upright position to the folded position. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a collapsible hook hanger will preferably includes a locking mechanism which locks the hook of the hanger in an upright position during normal usage. The novel arrangement of the components of the present invention provides a mechanism which is cost effective to manufacture, easy to assemble and which provides for the mentioned locking mechanism. This locking arrangement is best seen in  FIGS. 18 to 20 . As previously mentioned, boss  128  is sized to extend through upper opening  136  of drum  126 . Spring  130  is positioned within drum  126  to urge boss  128  outward through upper opening  134 . This position, which is the locked position, is shown in  FIG. 18 . In this locked position, the portion of boss  128  extending through opening  136  engages walls  146  of cover  138 . Thus, in the locked position, hook  118  is prevented from rotation. 
     To rotate hook  118  to the folded state, the hook is pressed towards body portion  112  against the bias of spring  130 , thereby retracting boss  128  within drum  126  (as shown in  FIG. 19 ). In this position, there is no longer engagement between boss  128  and walls  146  of cover  138 . At this point, hook  118  can be rotated to its folded position (see  FIG. 20 ), which results in drum  126  rotating within frame  124 . During this period of rotation, boss  128  remains captured within drum  126 . 
     As discussed hereinabove, this folded state provides a reduced footprint for the hanger, thereby reducing the size of the packaging boxes/containers required to transport the garments positioned on the hangers. Once the hangers/garments reach the retail location, the garments/hangers are removed from the boxes/containers, and the hook is rotated from the folded position to the upright position. Once the hook reaches the upright position, the biasing force of spring  130  will urge boss  128  through upper opening  136  and into engagement with walls  146  of cover  138 , thereby locking the hook into the upright position. 
     It will be appreciated that the present invention has been described herein with reference to certain preferred or exemplary embodiments. The preferred or exemplary embodiments described herein may be modified, changed, added to or deviated from without departing from the intent, spirit and scope of the present invention, and it is intended that all such additions, modifications, amendments and/or deviations be included in the scope of the present invention.