Abstract:
The present invention relates to garment hanger and a garment hanger apparatus. In particular, it relates to a garment hanger apparatus of the type in which the hanger arms for supporting a garment item are adjustable in length. In one embodiment an extension arm can be added to an existing hanger support arms and is infinitely adjustable in length by sliding along the support arm. Therefore, the effective length of the hanger arm can be selected and varied as desired.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is related generally to garment or clothes hangers, and more particularly, to adjustable arms for a garment hanger. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Garment or clothes hangers of fixed construction have the disadvantage that clothing of different styles, shapes and sizes do not all fit on the hanger equally well. As a result, garments which are misfit to the shape or size of the hanger, hang in a deformed manner which causes wrinkling and misshaping of the cloth. The following are exemplary of the prior art; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,964,360; 5,085,358; 5,975,385; 6,164,504; 6,036,062; 923,786; 2,436,314; 2,494,711; 2,504,562; 2,679,958; 2,716,512; 2,900,117; 2,944,711; 3,039,662; 3,874,572; 7,077,300 and 4,717,053 and United Kingdom Patent 887,020. 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,964,360 discloses a garment hanger of the type in which the hanger arms for supporting clothing are adjustable in length. In particular, the garment hanger includes sets of main arms, adjustable arms, and cover arms. Locator elements comprising a series of recesses are formed in the top surface extending along the length of each main arm. 
         [0004]    One problem of such a design is that is not easily adaptable for use on existing garment hanger designs. Accordingly, it would be an improvement to provide an apparatus that can be attached to existing garment hanger designs to prevent wrinkling of the garment. 
         [0005]    Another problem associated with this type of garment hanger is that the adjustability is limited to predefined lengths as indicated by the locator elements. Such a restriction on adjustability may not permit a precise fit as there are numerous sizes of garments that can vary by manufacturer. Accordingly, it would be an improvement to provide an adjustable hanger that has unlimited adjustability to prevent wrinkling of garments on a wider variety of styles of clothing from many manufacturers. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,504 discloses a clothes hanger extender which has a front portion and a back portion. The front portion has a channel locking portion with an elliptical cross-section and an open portion defined by edges thereof. 
         [0007]    One problem the extender of the &#39;504 patent presents is that the shape of the extender and the channel locking portion allows, i.e., does not prevent, the extender from flipping over such that it is upside down, and cannot fulfill its intended purpose. 
         [0008]    The extender disclosed in the &#39;504 patent is attached to the hanger by forcing the edges of the channel locking portion over the hanger. Utilizing the design of the extended in the &#39;504 patent attaching the extender to the hanger may become difficult as the force used to put the extender on the hanger acts on the edges and may cause the channel locking portion to collapse or partially collapse, making it difficult or impossible to attached the extender to the hanger. 
         [0009]    The present invention is aimed at one or more of the problems identified above. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention provides an adjustable garment hanger apparatus consisting of one or two arms attached to a hanger which permits adjustment of the length of the hanger arms in order to accommodate different styles and sizes of clothing and to thereby permit smooth hanging of clothing. In one embodiment, the present invention can be an apparatus that attaches to an existing garment hanger to allow the conversion into an adjustable length garment hanger which is inexpensive to make, easy to adjust, of rugged construction, and which provides a wider range of adjustment for variations in garment size. 
         [0011]    In one aspect of the present invention, an adjustable arm for use with a garment hanger, having a plurality of arms extending from a neck, is provided. The adjustable arm includes a top portion and an insertion mechanism. The top portion has a first end and a second end. The first end forms an engaging portion. The engaging portion has an open, round cross section with first and second edges. The first and second edges form a gap. The engaging portion receives one of the arms of the hanger and frictionally engages the hanger arm in a slidable manner. The second end has a cavity for receiving at least a portion of the arm of the hanger. The insertion mechanism is coupled to, and extending from, the first and second edges of the engaging portion. 
         [0012]    In another aspect of the present invention, an adjustable arm for use with a garment hanger, having a plurality of arms extending from a neck, is provided. The adjustable arm includes a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion has a first end and a second end, forming a locking portion. The engaging portion has an open, round cross section with first and second edges, forming a gap. The engaging portion receives one of the arms of the hanger and frictionally engages the hanger arm in a slidable manner. The second end has first and second sides forming a cavity for receiving at least a portion of the arm of the hanger. The bottom portion extends below a bottom edge of the hanger arm when received in the cavity formed by the top portion of the second end. 
         [0013]    In still another aspect of the present invention, an adjustable arm for use with a garment hanger having a plurality of arms extending from a neck, is provided. The arm includes a top portion, a bottom portion, and an insertion mechanism. The top portion has a first end and a second end, forming a locking portion. The engaging portion has an open, round cross section with first and second edges, forming a gap. The engaging portion receives one of the arms of the hanger and frictionally engages the hanger arm in a slidable manner. The second end has first and second sides forming a cavity for receiving at least a portion of the arm of the hanger. The insertion mechanism is coupled to, and extends from, the first and second edges of the engaging portion. The bottom portion extends below a bottom edge of the hanger arm when received in the cavity formed by the top portion of the second end. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a side view of an adjustable arm attached to a clothes hanger, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the adjustable arm of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the adjustable arm shown of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a top view of a portion of an adjustable arm, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a top view of an adjustable arm, according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the adjustable arm fitted with a flared attachment to the outermost end, in accordance with one embodiment. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is an expanded side view of the adjustable apparatus with a chamfered transition from the main hanger arm, in accordance with one embodiment. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a side view of an adjustable arm for use with a clothes hanger, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a top view of the adjustable arm of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is an isometric view of the adjustable arm of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a front view of the adjustable arm of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
       [0026]    It should be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the Figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements are exaggerated relative to each other for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the Figures to indicate corresponding elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       [0027]    With reference to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in operation, the present invention provides a hanger extension apparatus  10  which includes two adjustable arms (only one of which is shown)  10 A for use with a garment hanger  50 . The garment hanger  50 , may be any type of garment hanger, the illustrated garment hangar  50  having first and second arms  52 A attached to a neck  54 . A hook  56  extends from the neck  54 . A cross beam  58  connected between lower ends of the arms  52 A,  52 B provides structural support. 
         [0028]    In one embodiment, each arm  10 A has a top portion  12 . The top portion  12  includes a first end  12 A and a second end  12 B. The first end  12 A forms an engaging portion  12 C. In the illustrated embodiments (as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 11 ), the engaging portion  12  having an open, round cross section with first and second edges  14 A,  14 B which form a gap  14 . The engaging portion  12  receives one of the arms  52 A of the hanger  50  and frictionally engages the hanger arm  52 A in a slidable manner. In other words, the engaging portion  12  allows the position of the adjustable arm  10 A relative to the hangar arm  52 A to be adjusted, while preventing or resisting inadvertent movement thereof. 
         [0029]    The adjustable arms  10 A,  10 B maybe composed, at least partially, of wood and/or metal and/or plastic and/or foam and/or rubber and/or other suitable material. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 , the second end  12 B of the top portion  12  forms a cavity  16  for receiving at least a portion of the hanger arm  52 A. 
         [0031]    In one embodiment, each arm  10 A includes an insertion mechanism  20  coupled to, and extending from, the first and second edges  14 A,  14 B of the engaging portion  12 . The insertion mechanism  20 , as explained below, assists putting the arm  10 A on the hanger  50 , i.e., inserting the hanger arm  52 A into the engaging portion  20 . 
         [0032]    With specific reference to  FIGS. 3 ,  7 ,  10 , and  11 , in one embodiment, the insertion mechanism  20  includes first and second insertion flanges  20 A,  20 B which extend in outward directions from the first and second edges  14 A,  1 B. To place the adjustable arm  10 B on the hanger arm  52 A, the hanger arm  52  is placed within the insertion mechanism  20 , e.g., between the first and second insertion flanges  20 A,  20 B, and pressure is applied. The pressure acts against the first and second insertion flanges  20 A,  20 B, acting to separate the edges  14 A,  14 B and correspondingly enlarging the gap  14 , thereby making it easier to insert the hanger arm  52 A into the engaging portion  12 C. 
         [0033]    It should be noted that while in the Figures, the insertion flanges  20 A,  20 B are shown as being flat or planar, the present invention is not limited to such shape. Any suitable shape may be used. 
         [0034]    Returning to  FIG. 2 , in the illustrated embodiment, the top portion  12  has a centrally disposed longitudinal axis  22  and is defined by substantially tubular outer wall portions  18 . For the purposes of illustration only, the top portion  12  is delineated from a bottom or lower portion  30  by dotted line  24 . 
         [0035]    With specific reference to  FIG. 6 , in one embodiment the adjustable arm  10 A includes a flared attachment  26  coupled, and extending from the second end  12 B. In the illustrated embodiment, the flared attachment  26  includes first and second flexible extensions  26 A,  26 B which extend in directions generally perpendicular to the arm  10 A. The flared attachment  26  may be composed from a flexible material, such as cardboard or plastic or other suitable material. 
         [0036]    With specific reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the first end  12 A of the top portion  12  may include a chamfered portion  28  to reduce wrinkling. 
         [0037]    With specific reference to  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  8  and  9 , the adjustable arm  10 A, may include a non-slippage mechanism  32  located on a top surface  12 D of at least a portion of the top portion  12 . In one embodiment, the non-slippage mechanism  32  include one or more recesses  32 A on the top surface  12 D ( FIG. 4 ). 
         [0038]    With specific reference to  FIGS. 8-11 , in an alternative embodiment, where like parts are numbered the same or similarly, an adjustable arm  100 , according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 8-11 , the non-slippage mechanism  32  include one or more areas of rubberized material, in the shape of ribs  32 C, molded into or affixed to the top  12 D. 
         [0039]    In one aspect of the present invention, the engaging portion  12 C and the insertion mechanism  20  form a reinforced stop  36 . 
         [0040]    Returning to  FIG. 2 , the bottom or lower portion  30  extend below a bottom edge of the hanger arm  52 A when received in the cavity  16  formed by the top portion  12  of the second end  12 B. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the majority of the hanger arm  52 A would be located above dotted line  24 . The lower portion  30  act to keep the arm  10 B upright. In one embodiment, the bottom portion  30  includes first and second extensions  34  extending from the respective first and second sides  18  of the second end  12 B. 
         [0041]    With particular reference to  FIG. 10 , in the alternative embodiment, the bottom portion  30  includes first and second flat or planar extensions  134 A,  134 B, as shown. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY  
       [0042]    With reference to the drawings, and in operation, the present invention provides an adjustable arm  10 A which may be used to extend the hanger arm  52 A of a hanger  50 . The adjustable arm  10 A is infinitely adjustable between first and second positions. 
         [0043]    When moved to the desired location along the hanger arm  52 A, the adjustable arm  10 A can be held in place with friction created by a cavity of the engaging portion  12 C of which at least a portion of whose interior circumference is generally smaller than the outer perimeter of the hanger to which the arm  10 A is being applied. The cavity of the second end  12 B of the top portion  12  has a perimeter greater than that of the hanger arm  52 A, allowing free movement of the arm  12 A and maintains the vertical orientation thereof. The reinforced stop  36  limits the inadvertent removal of the extendible arm during adjustment. 
         [0044]    The adjustable arm  10 A is held in place by friction allowing unlimited adjustability. Such unlimited adjustability provides a more precise fit of the accessory with the garment and thus prevents wrinkling on a wide variety of styles of clothing from many manufacturers. 
         [0045]    The adjustable arm  10 A may be made in a wide variety of colors to advantageously accommodate an individual&#39;s coloring scheme in their home and increase the appeal of the apparatus. 
         [0046]    As discussed above, the adjustable arm  10 A may include a non-slippage portion to prevent slippage of clothing hung on the hanger  50   
         [0047]    As is apparent from the foregoing specification, the invention is susceptible of being embodied with various alterations and modifications which may differ particularly from those that have been described in the preceding specification and description. It should be understood that we wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of our contribution to the art. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described within the scope of the appended claims.