Patent ID: 8016138

Claim:
A hanger retaining device for retaining a hanger on a hanger rod, the hanger retaining device comprising: a first side portion spaced apart from an opposing second side portion, each side portion including: a body portion presenting an external face and an internal face, the internal face being bound by an outer edge, and an arcuate inner edge spaced from the outer edge, the arcuate inner edge having a first end and a second end spaced apart along the arcuate inner edge, and a hooked portion extending from at least one of the first and second side portions and presenting a continuing arcuate edge that extends from the arcuate inner edge along a continuing arcuate shape such that the arcuate inner edge and the continuing arcuate edge together define an arc greater than one hundred eighty degrees; a first retaining portion spaced radially outward from the first end of the arcuate inner edge of the internal face of each side portion by a first retaining distance, and extending between the internal face of the first side portion and the internal face of the second side portion; and a second retaining portion spaced radially outward from the second end of the arcuate inner edge of the internal face of each side portion by a second retaining distance, and extending between the internal face of the first side portion to the internal face of the second side portion, wherein the first retaining distance is greater than the second retaining distance; wherein the hooked portion is resilient and the arcuate shape is at a radial distance from a center point of the arc such that the arcuate inner edge and the hooked portion together are adapted to grippingly receive a hanger rod within.