CA2529691A1

CA2529691A1 - Hockey hanger

Info

Publication number: CA2529691A1
Application number: CA 2529691
Authority: CA
Inventors: Paul King
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-12-12
Filing date: 2005-12-12
Publication date: 2007-06-12

Description

HOCKEY HANGER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a hanger for garments and sports equipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Single garment hangers of generally triangular configuration with a hook are commonly used for hanging clothing on a bar or hook, such as in a closet, wardrobe, or portable garment rack, to keep the clothing fresh and to prevent wrinkles. However, such hangers are not typically adapted to hanging more than one item of clothing, and they are not well-suited to hanging items such as sports pads and equipment.

Devices for hanging multiple garments are also known, such as coat trees. Such devices are more robust and heavy-duty than single garment hangers; however, such devices may lack the portability of single garment hangers. Such devices also are not well-suited to hanging items such as sports pads and equipment.

Sports uniforms, pads and other equipment absorb sweat in use. However, such items may not be cleaned immediately, and are often thrown back into a sports bag where the items are unable to dry quickly, which may result in odors and bacterial growth.

It would be desirable to have a hanger for sports uniforms, pads and equipment that allows these items to hang dry after use. Preferably, such a hanger should also incorporate the portability of a single garment hanger, without compromising the strength and robustness required for hanging multiple items.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A hanger is provided to address the aforementioned problems.

The present device is a portable sports equipment hanger comprising:

a plurality of open frame members joined together in a linear array, an endmost frame member in the array having a primary hook or loop on an outer surface thereof, the primary hook or loop being adapted to allow the array to hang in a downwardly depending fashion from the hook or loop when in use, each frame member comprising a plurality of secondary hooks or loops on the frame member, the secondary hooks or loops being adapted for removably hanging sports equipment thereon, the frame members being flexibly joined in the array to permit folding the hanger for transportation or storage.

As used herein, "sports equipment" includes any equipment or garments used or worn by a player participating in a sport. Examples include, but are not limited to, uniforms, workout garments, undergarments, pads, supports, helmets, masks, gloves, mitts, towels, and water bottles. The hanger is particularly useful for hockey equipment, and hockey equipment examples are discussed. However, the invention is not limited to hockey equipment, and the skilled person will readily appreciate that the hanger can be used for any type of sports or exercise equipment used or worn by a player.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1A is a front view of a hanger according to a first embodiment (using a unitary primary hook).

2 Figure 1 B is a side view of a connector clip according to the first embodiment.
Figure 2 is a front view of a top frame member according to the first embodiment.

Figure 3 is a detail view of the top section of the top frame member also according to the first embodiment.

Figure 4A is an exploded view of a hanger according to a second embodiment (using a separate primary hook piece).

Figure 4B are side views of possible connector clips according to the second embodiment.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a hanger according to the first embodiment (but having only 2 frame members).

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a hanger in use with hockey equipment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Two embodiments of the hanger are shown in the attached figures:

= a first embodiment (shown in Figures 1A, 1B, 2, 3, 5) using an integral primary hook; and = a second embodiment (shown in Figures 4A, 4B) using a separate primary hook piece.

3 Preferably, the frame members of the hanger are of rigid plastic construction.
Injection-molded plastics, in particular, have durable characteristics that are useful for the invention, while also having beneficial manufacturing considerations (inexpensive materials, ease of manufacturing). The material selected should be strong and resistant to torsion or bending, should not crack or stretch unduly under strain, should be water-and germ-resistant, and should have an attractive visual appeal. The hangers may be provided in different colors or designs to enhance consumer appeal. While plastic is preferred, any material is suitable that is lightweight and rust-proof, while having sufficient strength to carry equipment.

In construction, each frame member is preferably of one-piece construction. An open, generally rectangular shape is preferred. The open middle portion facilitates drying, and keeps the hanger relatively lightweight.

Secondary hooks or loops may be integral with the frame members (as shown in the figures) or may be separate hardware pieces joined by fastening or adhesion to the frame members (not shown). In a preferred configuration, each frame member has multiple secondary hooks or loops (see Figure 1A, 4A, 5 for possible configurations of secondary hooks), some on outside surfaces of the frame member (i.e. sticking out from the outside boundary of the frame member), and some on inside surfaces (i.e.
extending within the inside of the "window" in the center of the frame member). It may be preferred to orient the interior hooks so as to hook away from each other (as shown in Figure 2).
This may enhance the ability of these hooks to hold one piece of equipment securely between them. However, the placement of the hooks or loops is not critical to the invention. It is more important that the number of such hooks should be sufficient to allow a player to store all or substantially all of his/her equipment on a single hanger. An

4 example of the hanger in use with hockey equipment is shown in Figure 6. A
configuration with 18 secondary hooks (as shown in Figure 1A) has been found to be particularly useful for hockey equipment.

Preferably, as shown in Figure 1A, the hanger has approximately 3 frame members in linear array. (An alternate configuration of the same embodiment with 2 frame members is shown in Figure 5). An endmost frame member (which will be the topmost frame member when the hanger is in use - see Figure 2) has a primary hook or loop, which may be integral with the frame member (as in the first embodiment), or a separate piece joined to the frame member by fastening or adhesion (as in the second embodiment).
The frame members are preferably joined to each other, edge-to-edge, in a linear row.
For example, when generally rectangular frame members are used (as shown in the figures), each of the frame members is joined to its adjacent frame member at the longest edge of the rectangle (as shown in Figure 1A).

The flexible joints between the frame members are preferably constructed using connectors, which are looped or clipped to the frame members to hold them together.
The connectors may themselves be flexible, such as loops of plastic threaded through slots on the frame members (not shown). Or, the connectors may be more-or-less rigid pieces clipped or looped to the frame members sufficiently loosely to permit relative rotational movement between the frame members for folding. The connectors may advantageously have an S shape or C shape (some examples of different shapes are shown in Figures 1 B, 4A and 4B). As shown in Figure 1A and 5, two connectors may be used between each pair of adjacent frame members, however, any number of connectors may be used that permits the desired flexibility while maintaining the strength and stability of the overall structure. It may be advantageous to provide releasable or

5 removable connectors, to allow the hanger to be dismantled, or to provide enhanced modularity.

Preferably, the frame members are generally the same size and shape, and are capable of folding upon each other to collapse the hanger (folded configuration not shown). The folded hanger preferably lies flat, either in a generally Z-type fold configuration, or in a G-type fold configuration. Both the light weight of the hanger, and its folding capability, enhance transportability for use in different locations. As an example, the hanger can be unfolded and used to hang-dry equipment in a hotel room, while a player is away from home at a tournament. The hanger can be hung on a shower bar, for example, in a hotel bathroom.

To enhance the portability of the hanger, the weight of the entire structure is preferably less than about 1 pound. The size of each frame member is preferably no more than about19" by 20". In total, an assembled hanger is preferably less than about 38" long (i.e. tall), including primary hook/loop. The exact dimensions are not critical, however, it is preferred that the folded hanger be sized to fit in a standard sports equipment bag, or suitcase. The hangers may be sized differently for men and women, or for child and adult users.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact configurations, components, materials and applications shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

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