Abstract:
The garment hanger has first and second shoulder bars and has first and second telescoping arms thereon which permit shoulder width adjustment of the garment hanger for proper support of garments having different shoulder width. In one configuration, the hanger is supported by a support tube on the top of the hanger, with the support tube telescopically engaging on an outwardly directed hanger anchor in the closet.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to an improved garment hanger which has adjustable garment shoulder supporting hanger arms so that the hanger can be adjusted to garment size. In one configuration, the hanger is supported by a support tube on the top of the hanger engaging on an outwardly directed hanger anchor in the closet. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to maintain the good condition of garments when they are not being worn, garment hangers have been created. Garment hangers have been produced in various shapes and styles. Garment hangers are usually constructed with shoulder portions for supporting the shoulders in coats, shirts and dresses of similar construction. Garment hangers often have a cross bar upon which can be hung trousers, skirts and other similar garments. The upper part of the hanger usually has a hook between the shoulder-supporting bars by which the hanger can be hung on a bar or the like. Though there have been many changes in the construction of garment hangers, most of the prior garment hangers do not properly fit the shoulder of the garment. There is a need for a garment hanger configured to be adjustable in length to properly support the shoulders of the garment to be hung thereon. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to aid in the understanding of this invention, it can be stated in essentially summary form that it is directed to a garment hanger which has garment shoulder supporting arms which are adjustable in length so that the garment hanger is suitable for garments of different sizes. In one configuration the garment hanger has a supporting tube above the support arms. This tube slides onto an outwardly-directed hanger anchor in the closet. The supporting tube is also suitable for hanging a skirt or trousers thereon. 
     It is thus a purpose and advantage of this invention to provide a garment hanger which has adjustable garment shoulder support arms so that the garment hanger can be adjusted to properly support garments of different shoulder widths. 
     It is another purpose and advantage of this invention to provide a garment hanger which is suitable for proper support of a shouldered garment, together with an additional garment such as skirt or trousers. 
     It is a further purpose and advantage of this invention to provide a garment hanger which can carry a garment on an upper tube with that tube also serving as a support for the garment hanger. 
    
    
     The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the garment hanger of this invention, showing one garment hanger in association with the hanger anchor provided in the closet for supporting the garment hanger. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view thereof, with parts broken away and parts taken in section. 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a second preferred embodiment of the garment hanger of this invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and parts taken in section, of a third preferred embodiment of the garment hanger of this invention. 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged broken-away portion of the section portion of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged transverse section taken generally along line  6 — 6  of FIG.  4 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The garment hanger  10  shown in FIG. 3 has first and second tubular shoulder bars  12  and  14  angled downward from the center bar  16  at a conventional angle which is configured to engage within a garment having shoulder structure. The downward angle is chosen to best support the usual garment. The center part  16  spaces the shoulder bars and hook  18  is secured thereto. The hook is sized to be able to engage over a conventional closet bar. Cross bar  20  is secured to both shoulder bars adjacent their lower outer ends. A convenient structure for the portion of the garment hanger  10  thus described is making the shoulder bars and center bar out of one piece of tubular synthetic polymer composition material. The crossbar is also of such tubular material, but may be of a smaller diameter, as shown. 
     In order to provide adjustability of the garment hanger  10  for garment shoulders of different width, first and second telescoping arms  22  and  24  are provided. These arms are sized to fit within the tubular openings in the shoulder bars  12  and  14 , respectively. They are of a suitable tight fit to permit adjustment, but are held in place by the friction of the fit. The outer ends of the telescoping arms  22  and  24 , respectively, are provided with curved ends  26  and  28  which are curved more than 90° in order to prevent causing distortion in the garment which is hung thereon. The telescoping arms are pulled out or pushed in to provide the proper total overall hanger width for the garment in question. A large man&#39;s jacket would require a larger overall width for proper support than a smaller woman&#39;s jacket. The arms of hanger  10  can be adjusted to properly accommodate either. 
     The garment hanger  30  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is similar to the garment hanger  10 . It has a center bar  32  to which are attached, or with which are unitarily formed, left and right shoulder bars  34  and  36 . The shoulder bars are strengthened with respect to each other by means of crossbar  38 . At least the outer ends of the left and right shoulder bars are tubular and telescoping arms  40  and  42  are adjustably mounted therein. Again, the telescoping arms can be moved in and out of the shoulder bars and there is a friction fit therebetween which holds the telescoping arms in place, when suitably adjusted. This permits the garment hanger  30  to be adjusted to the shoulder width of the garment to be hung thereon and supported thereby. 
     The support of the garment hanger  30  in the closet is different. Attached to the center bar  32  is a support tube  44  which is in the same plane as the shoulder bars  34  and  36 . The support tube is about as long as the width between the ends of the shoulder bars, as seen in FIG.  2 . The garment hanger  30  is supported in a garment storage location. As one example, a shelf  46  is positioned in a garment storage location, such as a closet. Mounting plate  48  is mounted under the shelf  46  by means of screws, or the like. A plurality of U-shaped hanger anchors is secured under the mounting plate, parallel to each other and in spaced relationship, as seen in FIG.  1 . Hanger anchor  50  is one of the hanger anchors shown in FIG.  1  and is shown in more detail in FIG.  2 . The U-shaped hanger anchor  50  has an upper leg  52  by which the hanger anchor is attached to the mounting plate  48 . Hanger anchor  50  also has a lower leg  54  which extends freely to the left, as seen in FIG.  2 . The upper and lower legs  52  and  54  are parallel and are spaced from each other and are joined at a bend at the right end. The lower leg  54  is of uniform thickness throughout its length and is sized to be received within the support tube  44  on the garment hanger  30 . 
     Thus, the garment hanger can be slipped onto the lower leg of the hanger anchor into the storage position shown in FIG.  2 . Support hook  56  is attached to the support tube  44  adjacent its outer end as shown in FIG.  1 . When the garment hanger is fully engaged on the lower leg  54 , the hook  56  engages over the outer end of upper leg  52  as seen in FIG. 2 to provide additional weight-bearing support for the hanging elements of the garment hanger  30 . In the hanger  10  in FIG. 3, the trousers or skirt associated with the shoulder garment can be hung over the crossbar  20 . When using the garment hanger  30 , the shoulder garment is first placed on the shoulder bars and then the trousers or skirt are placed over the support tube  44  as illustrated by the garment  58  shown in dashed lines in FIG.  2 . This provides a greater length of straight support structure than is provided by the shorter crossbar  38 . 
     Garment hanger  60  shown in FIGS. 4,  5  and  6  is similar to the garment hanger  10 . The garment hanger  60  has a center bar  62  which carries a hook  64  by which the hanger can be supported from a closet bar or the like. Left and right shoulder bars  66  and  68  are joined to the center bar and extend downward at an appropriate angle for a garment hanger. As seen in FIGS. 4,  5  and  6 , the shoulder bars are tubular. As seen in FIG. 6, the shoulder bars have an irregular interior opening  70 , such as a rectangular opening. 
     In the garment hanger  60  the telescoping arms  72  and  74  are formed of a rod  76  with an outer cap  78  thereon. The rod and cap are of circular cross section. The lock member  80  is attached to the inner end of the rod  76  of the telescoping arm  72 . The lock member is noncircular but it is sized so that, when at one rotative position, the telescoping arm is free to move in and out and, in another rotative position, the telescoping arm is locked in position. This can be accomplished easily when the lock member is not round, such as the elliptical form shown. The major dimension of the elliptical lock member is larger than the distance between the walls of the opening  70  in a first direction and smaller than the distance between the walls of the opening  70  in a second direction at an angle to the first direction; as illustrated, the first and second directions are respectively horizontal and vertical. The material of the lock member is flexible and high friction, such as rubber, so that it can be rotated into a position wherein the lock member engages by friction on the walls of the opening  70  to hold the telescoping arm in the selected position. In order to enhance the appearance, the center bar and shoulder bars can be made of wood. Similarly, the caps and rods of the telescoping arms can be made of wood. 
     In each of these configurations the telescoping arms can be adjusted to the shoulder width of the jacket or dress to be hung thereon. This provides proper shoulder support for the garment so that the shoulders do not sag or are not stretched out. Superior clothing storage of these hangers is achieved. 
     This invention has been described in its presently contemplated best modes and it is clear that it is susceptible to numerous modifications, modes and embodiments within the ability of those skilled in the art and without the exercise of the inventive faculty. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is defined by the scope of the following claims.