Abstract:
A garment hanger attachment is presented that is formed of a unitary, elongated, flexible body. The body has a partial slit running lengthwise from a point proximal to one end of the body to a point proximal to the other end of the body. In the center of the body, the slit traverses through the entire diameter of the body to allow the hook of the hanger to pass through. The overall shape of the body is formed length-wise along a single axis, with the slit being molded or cut into the body. The garment hanger attachment is attached to a garment hanger through frictional engagement in the slit or through elastic stretching from one end of the hanger to the other. The attachment is elongated in a straight-line before being attached to the garment hanger, but conforms to the shape of the hanger when attached.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/827,044, Mar. 25, 1997 entitled “Expanded Garment Hanger Attachment,” which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,620. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the field of garment hangers, particularly to hanger attachments designed to provide garment hangers with a wider, non-slip surface on which the garment hangs. 
     It has long been known that the economical wire garment hanger, while having numerous advantages such as ease of manufacture and low cost, is also burdened by numerous disadvantages. In order to make a wire hanger in a traditional manner, the diameter of the wire must be sufficiently small so as to allow easy manipulation of the wire. Unfortunately, this thin diameter can damage or distort clothing hanging on it. In addition, wire garment hangers are capable of rusting, which also can destroy clothing through staining. Finally, wire hangers generally have a slick surface, which means that clothing may slide off of the hanger. 
     The recent emergence of plastic garment hangers has reduced these disadvantages to some extent. Standard plastic hangers have a wider diameter than wire hangers, which results in less distortion to the clothing. However, plastic hangers still do not have a diameter that approaches the size of a human shoulder, and therefore still result in clothing distortion. This is particularly true when clothing is left to dry on the hanger. A diameter that would be wide enough to prevent distortion (i.e., on the order of magnitude of the width of a human shoulder) would be difficult to make, deliver, store, and sell, if such a hanger were made completely out of plastic. In addition, although plastic hangers do not rust like wire hangers, they do have a similarly slick surface that allows clothing to slide off the hanger. 
     Specialty hangers have been developed that solved the problems relating to wire and plastic hangers. These specialty hangers have a hook, like all hangers, and have wide, padded arms. These arms have a width wider than that of a traditional plastic hanger, to allow the clothing to hang and to dry in a more natural form. The arms are generally padded, such as with a resilient, fabric covered pad. By covering the pads with fabric, or by alternatively forming the pads with a non-slip foam, the arms keep the clothing from sliding off. However, such specialty hangers are created so that the wide, padded arms cannot be removed. Removal is necessary in order to allow the pads to be washed if dirty, changed if damaged, or removed if no longer needed. In addition, specialty hangers tend to be significantly more expensive than standard plastic or wire hangers due to the additional steps required for their manufacture. 
     What is needed is a replaceable attachment for standard hangers that 
     can be used with both plastic and wire hangers; 
     creates a wide, rounded shoulder for allowing clothes to hang in a natural shape; 
     has a non-slip surface to prevent clothes from sliding; 
     is easily attachable and removable; and 
     can be constructed simply and inexpensively. Although there are several designs in the prior art for hanger attachment that meet one or more of these needs, none of the prior art attachments meet all of these needs. 
     For instance, one known type of hanger attachment is the rigid hanger sheath, exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 3,301,447 to Felton. In this patent, a sheath of rigid plastic material is made which can snap onto a standard wire hanger. Because the snaps which hold the sheath in place must be of the correct size to hold a wire hanger snugly, a single sheath could not be utilized with both a wire and a plastic hanger. In addition, although the sheath could be inexpensively manufactured through plastic injection molding, the rigidness of the plastic required to form the snaps generally prevents the surface from having a non-slip characteristic. Ridges in the surface of the sheath are known in the prior art, but are inferior to surfaces made entirely of a non-slip material. Also known is the technique of covering of the surface of the sheath with a cushioning material such as sponge rubber. However, this multi-layer design is inherently expensive. 
     Similar hanger sheaths, such as those in U.S. Pat. No. 3,762,614 to Musante and U.S. Pat. No. 3,807,609 to Tymoszek, also need to be constructed with rigid materials in order to keep their shape. As a result, it is difficult to create a non-slip surface without creating a multi-layer design. While not providing a complete sheath, the clothes hanger attachment in U.S. Pat. No. 3,733,016 to Rood also is made out of a rigid material in order to keep its shape and to snap onto a wire hanger. 
     An alternative attachment to a clothes hanger is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,680,747 to Quisling. In this attachment, an elongated strip of paperboard or plastic is wound about a wire hanger. Unfortunately, the shoulder portion created by this attachment is a flat, albeit wide surface, and consequently does not provide the preferred rounded shoulder. 
     A rounded shoulder is provided by U.S. Pat. No. 3,212,687 to Bradley through the use of two resilient pad sections, each constructed to hold the pad in the desired shape, and joined together by means of an elastic strip. Unfortunately, the complicated construction of this hanger attachment makes inexpensive manufacturing of the attachment impossible. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,602,408 to Gaydos describes a wire hanger clip designed to be clipped onto one end of a wire hanger to provide wide support for a garment&#39;s shoulder. A similar clip must be clipped onto the other end of the wire hanger to provide support for each shoulder. This invention suffers in that it is designed to be held in place frictionally or resiliently, and therefore must be manufactured for a specific width of a hanger—either a wire hanger or a plastic hanger, but not both. Furthermore, this invention suffers in that two separate attachments are necessary for each hanger, allowing the attachments to easily separate from each other. 
     Another prior art hanger attachment that is used in commercial retail markets is shown in FIG.  1 . To form this attachment  10 , a thin, rectangular sheet of material such as foam rubber is folded lengthwise and fused together at its two ends  12 ,  14 . A length-wise hole  16  through the middle of the rectangle allows the hook  18  of a wire hanger  20  to pass through. The rounded corners of the hanger  20  abut the attachment  10  where the sides  12 ,  14  of the attachment  10  are fused together. The main length of the attachment  10  is folded around the shoulder portions of hanger  20 , forming padded shoulder portions  22  and  24 . 
     The disadvantage of this attachment  10  is that the shoulder portions  22 ,  24  that are formed are relatively narrow compared to other attachments and therefore do not adequately shape a garment that is hung on hanger  20 . The reason for this is shown in the cross-sectional view of attachment  10  shown in FIG.  2 . Because the thin rectangle material that forms the attachment  10  must be folded over the hanger  20 , the thickness of the material is limited. If the material forming attachment  10  were thicker, it would become difficult to easily fold the material over the hanger  20  and fuse it together at ends  12 ,  14 . 
     A final prior art hanger attachment is shown in FIG.  3 . In this figure, the attachment  30  is a thin, rubbery layer that is glued or otherwise attached to a flat surface on plastic hanger  32 , such as by stretching a rubber-like band between two clips. Unfortunately, this attachment  30  must either be permanently attached, or otherwise cannot easily be used on hangers  32  not specifically designed for the attachment  30 . 
     The present invention overcomes these limitations in the prior art by providing a hanger attachment that can be used with both plastic and wire hangers; creates a wide, rounded shoulder for allowing clothes to hang in a natural shape; has a non-slip surface to prevent clothes from sliding; is easily attachable and removable; and can be constructed simply and easily. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The hanger attachment of the present invention is able to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by being formed of a unitary, elongated, flexible body. The body is preferably of a uniform cross section, and has at least a partial slit running lengthwise from a point proximal to one end of the body to a point proximal to the other end of the body. Alternatively, the slit can pass through both ends of the body. In the center of the body, the slit traverses through the entire diameter of the body to allow the hook of the hanger to pass through. 
     The overall shape of the body is formed length-wise along a single axis, with the slit being molded or cut into the body. The attachment is attached to the hanger through frictional engagement in the slit or through elastic stretching from one end of the hanger to the other. The attachment conforms to the shape of the hanger when attached. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention is made from a resilient foam material. The material is generally made in a straight, elongated shape. The material conforms to the shape of the hanger arms when attached to the hanger. Because the presented invention is generally in its relaxed, straight, elongated shape and is easily attached and removed from a hanger, it is easier to ship, store, and display than a hanger with a uniform, thick diameter, or a hanger attachment that does not have the straight, elongated shape. 
     The preferred embodiment is further covered in a colorfast flocking material, glued to the resilient foam with a water resistant glue. Excess flocking is removed from the foam via air pressure or vacuum. Alternatively, a fabric cover can be placed over the body of the hanger attachment. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a first prior art hanger attachment. 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the first prior art hanger attachment of FIG. 1 along line  2 — 2 . 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second prior art hanger attachment. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the top portion of a hanger attachment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the bottom portion of the hanger attachment of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the hanger attachment of FIG. 5 along line  6 — 6 . 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the hanger attachment of FIG. 5 along line  7 — 7 . 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the hanger attachment of FIG. 4 with a hanger inserted therein. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the bottom portion of a first alternative embodiment of a hanger attachment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the first alternative embodiment of the hanger attachment of FIG. 9 along line  10 — 10 . 
     FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the first alternative embodiment of the hanger attachment of FIG. 9 along line  11 — 11 . 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the bottom portion of a second alternative embodiment of a hanger attachment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the top portion of a third alternative embodiment of a hanger attachment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 14 is an enlarged section view showing the top portion of the hanger attachment of FIG. 5 along line  6 — 6 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 4 shows a hanger attachment  100  of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The hanger attachment  100  is in the shape of a cylinder  102  formed around axis or center-line  104 . Attachment  100  has a first end  106  at one end of the cylinder  102  and a second end  108  at the other end of the cylinder  102 . Approximately equal distant between the first end  106  and the second end  108  is a through-slit or hole  110  traversing diametrically through the cylinder  102  from a top portion  112  of the attachment  100  to a bottom portion  114  (not shown in FIG.  4 ). The width-wise direction of through-slit  110  runs parallel to axis  104 . 
     FIG. 5 shows the bottom portion  114  of hanger attachment  100 . A half-slit  116  runs parallel to the axis  104  from a first end-point  118  proximal to first end  106  to a second end-point  120  proximal to second end  108 . The half-slit  116  does not pass through the attachment  100 , but stops approximately half-way through attachment  100 . This is shown clearly in FIG. 6, a cross-sectional view of hanger attachment  100  along line  6 — 6 . 
     The through-slit  110  is formed by continuing the half-slit  116  all the way through the diameter of the attachment  100 . FIG. 7 shows the through-slit in a cross-section view along line  7 — 7 . 
     FIG. 8 shows the hanger attachment  100  being utilized on a hanger  122  having a traditional hook  124 . Two sloping shoulders  126 ,  128  of hanger  122  run from the hook  124  downward, terminating in two rounded corners  130 ,  132 , respectively. A crossbar  134  runs between corners  130  and  132  and completes the hanger  122 . 
     The hanger attachment  100  is utilized with hanger  122  by passing the hook  124  of hanger  122  through the through-slit  110  so that the hook emerges on the top portion  112  of attachment  100 . Although the through-slit  110  can be made as wide as the hook  124  (as is shown in FIG.  8 ), it is only necessary for the hole  110  to be large enough for the circumference of the hook  124  to fit through. The two sloping shoulders  126 ,  128  are inserted into half-slit  116 . The ends  106 ,  108  of the hanger attachment  100  are then pushed down over the sloping shoulders  126 ,  128  until the rounded corners  130 ,  132  are at least partially within the half-slit  116 . 
     When properly connected, the hanger attachment  100  conforms generally to the shape of the hanger  122 . The attachment  100  slopes downward from the through-slit  110  at a slope generally parallel to the sloping shoulder portions  126 ,  128  of the hanger  122  itself. 
     The hanger attachment  100  is held in place by either or both of two mechanisms. In the first mechanism, the sides of the half-slit  116  can frictionally engage the sloping shoulders  126 ,  128  of hanger  122 . This is created by selecting a resilient material for the hanger attachment  100 . The resiliency of the material, which combined with a narrow half-slit, forces the sides of the half-slit  116  against the sloping shoulders  126 ,  128  and thereby holds the attachment  100  in place. By careful selection of the material, the half-slit  116  can frictionally engage a plastic hanger or a wire hanger without alteration. The frictional engagement is further assisted by the presence of the hanger hook  124  in the through-slit  110 . This engagement helps prevent the attachment  100  from being dislodged from the hanger  122  when accidentally dropped or struck. 
     In the second mechanism, the length of the half-slit  116  is carefully selected so that when the attachment  100  is placed on the hanger  122 , the end-points  118 ,  120  of the half-slit  116  abut the two rounded corners  130 ,  132  of the hanger  122 . By having the end-points  118 ,  120  stretched over the rounded corners  130 ,  132  in this manner, the resiliency of the attachment  100  keeps the attachment  100  on the hanger  122 . 
     The preferred, resilient material for the hanger attachment  100  is polyurethane foam, specifically flexible polyurethane foam. Such foam is sufficiently resilient to allow the attachment  100  to be secured to the hanger  122 , and yet has a non-slip type of surface that will prevent clothes from slipping off of the hanger. Polyurethane foam is commonly available in densities ranging from 0.9 pounds per cubic foot to 3.5 pounds per cubic foot. The preferred embodiment utilizes a colorfast polyurethane foam having a density of 1.45 pounds per cubic foot. 
     Although flexible polyurethane foam is preferred, any foam material with the same general characteristics could be utilized. It would even be possible to create the hanger attachment  100  utilizing a foam that lacks a non-slip surface, although such a material would not be preferred. 
     The relative dimensions of the hanger attachment  100  are important to create the width  138  necessary to prevent the distortion of clothing. As shown in the figures, specifically in FIG. 4, the ratio of the length  136  of the hanger attachment  100  to the width  138  is approximately 10 to 1. This ratio, when used in connection with the standard hanger  122 , creates a width  138  sufficient to prevent the distortion of clothing that is dried or stored on the hanger attachment  100 . 
     The hanger attachment  100  can be formed from the selected foam material through one of two different types of processes. The first process, which is preferred, involves starting with “slabstock foam,” meaning the foam is pre-manufactured into a variety of stock sizes and densities. A slabstock foam of appropriate size and density is selected and then cut into the desired exterior length, circumference, and cross-sectional shape. While a generally uniform cross-sectional shape is preferred for ease of manufacturing and cost, the foam could be cut so that the cross-sectional shape of the attachment  100  varies. Next, the half-slit  116  and the through-slit  110  are cut into the hanger attachment  100 . 
     The second process is through molding the foam into the desired shape for the hanger attachment. To accomplish this, a mold having the desired length and cross-sectional shape would be created. The mold ideally would also have the half-slit  116  and the through-slit  110  as well, although these slits could be cut in after the molding process is completed. The foam material is then placed into the mold and cured according the techniques appropriate for the selected foam material, as is well-known in the prior art. 
     A first alternative embodiment of a hanger attachment  140  is shown in perspective view in FIG.  9  and cross-sectionally in FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. 10 shows a cross-section of that portion of the hanger attachment having only a half-slit  142 , while FIG. 11 shows a cross-section of that portion of the hanger attachment having through-slit  144 . In both figures, an interior cylindrical hollow  146  is shown. This hollow  146  is sized to approximate the cross-sectional size of a standard plastic hanger (not shown). Note that the diameter of the hollow is wider than the slit half-slit  142 . By including hollow  146 , the hanger attachment  140  can utilize a denser foam material than that utilized in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, since a plastic hanger would not require such a large deformation in the hanger attachment  140 . However, the inclusion of hollow  146  makes the hanger attachment  140  less useful in connection with wire hangers, since the wire hanger would not fill the hollow  146 . Hence, the wire hanger would be free to move relative to the hanger attachment  140  inside hollow  146 , which is not advantageous. On the exterior, the first alternative embodiment shown FIG. 9 can be created to look substantially identical to the embodiment shown in FIG.  5 . 
     The first alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 9 can be created with the hollow  146  extending all the way through ends  148 ,  149  of attachment  140 . In FIG. 9, attachment  140  is shown with ends  148 ,  149  sealed. 
     The construction of the first alternative embodiment of FIG. 9 is accomplished in a similar manner as the embodiment of FIGS. 4-8. In the molding process, the mold can provide for the hollow  146 . In the cutting process, the hollow  146  can be drilled into the slabstock foam, either during the creation of the half slit  142  or in a separate step. If the hollow  146  extends through ends  148 ,  149 , no additional work needs to be accomplished. If the ends  148 ,  149  are to be sealed, they can be sealed via epoxy, melting, or any other of the well-known processes in the prior art. 
     A second alternative embodiment for the invention is shown in FIG.  12 . In this embodiment, the hanger attachment  150  has a half-slit  152  that runs completely from a first end  154  of the hanger attachment  150  to a second end  156 . In this embodiment, there are no end-points of the half-slit  152  that can be placed over the rounded corners of a hanger. As a result, the only mechanism for keeping the attachment  150  on a hanger is the sides of the half-slit  152  frictionally engaging the hanger. However, the embodiment in FIG. 12 would be less expensive to create, since the slit  152  can be cut completely through the ends  154 ,  156 . 
     A third alternative embodiment, hanger attachment  160 , is shown in FIG.  13 . As can be seen from this figure, it is not necessary that the attachment  160  be circular in cross-section, although it is preferred that the top portion  162  be rounded in order to prevent creasing in clothing. 
     The top portion of the cross-sectional view from FIG. 6 is shown enlarged in FIG.  14 . In the preferred embodiment, the main interior core of hanger attachment  100  is comprised of resilient foam  170 . Because of appearance issues, it is often preferable to cover the resilient foam  170  with an outer layer  172 . This outer layer  172  could constitute a layer of fabric that is glued, stretched, or sewn around the resilient foam  170 . By making the outer layer  172  out of fabric, the variations in the overall look of the hanger attachment  100  are limited only by the variations in fabrics. For example, the fabric could be silk screen with a design or advertisements. The fabric could also be used in conjunction with the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, and could effectively close the ends of a slit  152  that is cut through end  154 ,  156  of resilient foam  170 . 
     While the outer layer  172  can be fabric, FIG. 14 actually shows an alternate embodiment where the outer layer  172  is a flocking material. The flocking material constitutes small particles of natural or synthetic fibers attached to the resilient foam  170  through an adhesive layer  127 . Through the flocking layer  172 , the hanger attachment  100  takes on a more professional, high fashion look. In addition, the flocking layer  127  also helps hide any imperfections in the surface of resilient foam  170 . 
     Since of the hanger attachment  100  may be used with valuable and delicate clothing, care must be taken to make sure the flocking material  172  is color safe and does not come off the attachment  100 . This is especially difficult because often clothing will be placed on attachment  100  when wet, and then remain on the attachment  100  for several additional days or weeks until removed. 
     The typical process by which flocking material is applied to foam is not satisfactory for the application of flocking layer  172  to the resilient foam  170  of the hanger attachment. This is in part due to the fact that most flocking glues fail to some degree the test of holding the flocking material  172  to foam  170  in the extreme condition of drying clothing. In addition, traditional flocking techniques fail to adequately remove excess, unglued flocking material  172  after the flocking material  172  is applied to the adhesive layer  174 . This excess flocking  172  will then end up on clothing used with the hanger attachment  100 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the adhesive layer  174  is made of an extremely water resistant glue. Only by making the glue water-resistant can the problem of excess flocking material coming off on wet clothing be avoided. In addition, care is taken to remove as much excess, unglued flocking as possible. This can be accomplished either by subjecting newly flocked attachments to strong bursts of air to dislodge excess flocking, or by applying a vacuum to the flocked surface of the attachment. Finally, to approve the overall appearance of the flocked attachment, the resilient foam  170  should be formed from pre-dyed foam have approximately the same color as the flocking material constituting layer  172 . 
     The invention is not to be taken as limited to all of the details thereof as modifications and variations thereof may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For instance, although the hanger attachments shown in the figures all have a uniform cross-section, it would be obvious to one skilled in the art to create an attachment with a non-uniform cross-section. Additionally, although the preferred embodiment of the attachment is manufactured with a resilient foam such as polyurethane foam, it would be obvious to make the attachment of the invented design of any material having the resilient properties of such foam. Finally, it is possible to form only a portion of the attachment out of the resilient foam. For instance, it is possible to incorporate rigid elements into the attachment, or to cover the foam with a fabric cover.