US3032243A - Clothes hanger device - Google Patents

Description

May 1, 1962 N. FURNO CLOTHES HANGER DEVICE Filed Nov. 13, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

NICHOLAS FURNO BY ATTORNEY May 1, 1962 N. FURNO 3,032,243

CLOTHES HANGER DEVICE Filed Nov. 13, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

NICHOLAS FURNO United States Patent 3,032,243 CLOTHES HANGER DEVICE Nicholas Furno, 721 Hallowell Drive, Huntingdon Valley, Pa. Filed Nov. 13, 1959, Ser. No. 852,783 1 Claim. (Cl. 223-92) This invention relates generally to garment hangers. More particularly, the invention is a garment hanger device having characteristics designed to preserve the shape of a garment supported on the hanger.

Garment hangers as conventionally made have a disadvantage, in that the relatively narrow form of the outer ends of the arms thereof is insuflicient to keep the sleeves of a coat, dress or other garment from wrinkling or creasing. Thus, a crease line will generally extend downwardly from the top of the sleeve and often will remain therein when the garment is being worn.

One object of the present invention is to provide a garment hanger attachment that will comprise fingers pro jecting forwardly from the outer end portions of the arms, in such a way as to support the shoulders of the garment in the same manner as when the garment is being worn, thereby to eliminate creasing of the sleeves.

Another object is to provide a particular shape of the fingers which coacts with a forwardly converging relationship and a downwardly diverging relationship thereof, to produce the desired results.

Another object, in at least one form of the invention, is to provide a means of connecting the fingers to a hanger that will be such as to allow the invention to be used with conventional hangers without modification or redesign of said existing hangers.

Another object, in at least one form of the invention, is to permit complete removal of the device whenever desired, so that the hanger can be used without the same.

Another object is to provide an attachment as described that will be comparatively inexpensive.

Another object, in one form of the invention, is to permit adjustment of the shape of the finger to fit the particular width and cross-sectional shape of the shoulder of the garment.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a garment hanger equipped with shape-preserving means according to the present invention.

FIG. 2. is a top plan view of the hanger and said means.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view showing one end of the hanger and illustrating one of the shape-preserving fingers.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view substantially on the same scale as FIG. 3, taken substantially on line 44 of FIG. 3, the finger being shown in full and dotted lines in its applied and partially removed positions respectively.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section on the same scale as FIG. 4, taken on line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view like FIG. 3 showing a modified construction wherein the finger is integral with the associated arm of the finger.

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view on line 77 of FIG. 6 on substantially the same scale as FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view, portions being broken away, showing still another modification, the dotted lines showing a springable jaw in position to permit removal of the finger.

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FIG. 9 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the device shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a view like FIG. 8 showing yet another modification.

Referring to the drawings in detail, generally designated at 10 is a conventional garment hanger of the socalled wishbone type. Such a garment hanger, in the form shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, has downwardly divergent supporting arms 12 of identical but opposite formation, each of said supporting arms extending in downwardly diverging relation at a very wide obtuse angle to each other. Further, the arms 12 as shown in FIG. 2 curve in the direction of their lengths, from the mid-length point of the hanger toward their outer ends, at a forward direction. This curvature is conventional in garment hangers, of course, and is designed to support the garment in a natural, shape-retaining manner. The arms 12 abut against each other along a vertical line 14 midway between the opposite extremities of the hanger forming a collar supporting portion, and at the line of abutment of the arms there is provided the stem 15 of the usual suspension hook 16.

A trousers bar 20 is supported below the arms 12, by a trousers bar support rod 18 of wire material having upwardly projecting ends engaged in the distal end portions of the arms 12.

All this is completely conventional in a garment hanger, and does not per se comprise part of the present invention.

The invention comprises forwardly projecting, identical but opposite shape-retaining fingers 22. These project forwardly from the arms 12 adjacent the distal extremities of the arms. The fingers are particularly formed and located to supportably underlie the shoulder portions of a suit coat or similar garment. By reason of this arrangement, a support for the garment is so located as to prevent the sleeves from cracking or wrinkling. It has been found that the sleeves tend to form a wrinkle, that is, they cr-ac approximately at the middle of the armhole, when a suit coat is suspended from a normal, straight hanger or a wishbone hanger not equipped with fingers 22 comprising the present invention. This is undesirable, of course, since the wrinkle tends to remain in the garment after the garment is removed from the hanger and is put on. A device according to the present invention, thus, may find its main and most effective use, though not its only use, in mens coat shops or in retail stores, tailoring establishments, etc.

In any event, the fingers 22 project forwardly from the arms 12, and when viewed in top plan converge in a forward direction. In other words, the fingers extend along imaginary lines aa (FIG. 2) which lines are extended approximately radially of the are described by the longitudinally curved arms 12.

Not only do the fingers converge in a forward direction, they also converge in a downward direction as shown in FIG. 1.

The fingers 22 include forwardly tapering body portions 24, which may be of their widest, thickest formation at the location of the arms 12, said body portion being progressively reduced at least in thickness if not in width in a direction toward their distal ends 26, which ends are extended downwardly and slightly rearwardly so as not to catch upon the garments.

In the form shown in FIGS. 1-5, the invention is designed to be an attachment to a completely conventional garment hanger 10. Said attachment can be put on the hanger after the hanger has already been in use Without the fingers. In other words, the attachment can be purchased for a great number of hangers that are already in use in a store or in the home. It is not necessary to discard ones conventional garment hangers. Instead, the

.portion 24 attachments are swiftly applied thereto. Further, no modification or redesign of the garment hangers, in any way, is required.

To this end, at the rear, thicker ends of the body portions 24, said body portions are formed with transverse, upwardly opening, deep, approximately rectangular recesses 23 (see FIG. 4). The recesses 28 are adapted to snugly receive a conventional arm 12 of a garment hanger 10. Such arms generally have transversely convex top surfaces 29, and the top surfaces of the fingers 22 merge smoothly into said surfaces 29 as clearly shown in FIG.

'4, again for the purpose of preserving the shape of the garment, eliminating wrinkles, and preventing the device from catching upon the fabric.

Any of various means can be employed to secure the device to its associated arm in a selected position taken longitudinally of the arm. In other words, the device can be adjusted longitudinally of the arm, as well as completely removed therefrom. In the form shown in FIGS. l5 (see FIG. 5) clamping or setscrews 30 are employed, the shanks of which extend into laterally opening, angular recesses32 formed in one side of the body portion 24. Recesses 32 communicatewith threaded bores 34 extending obliquely tothe length of the body portion and communicating at their inner ends with their recesses 28 midway between opposite. sides '35 of the body portion. A

screw 30 having a knurled head-isthus threadable into the bore 34. When the screwis loosened, thatis, backed out of the bore, the device can be removed entirelyfrom the garment hanger, orreadjusted longitudinally'of the associated arm 12. .After-the-adjustment, the screw is turned home against-the front surface of the associated arm 12, and in this way the device is fixedlyclamped to the arm in the selected, new position of adjustment.

In the form shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the device is integral with the garment hanger 16 so that the fingers 22* would comprise part of the garment hanger. The garment hanger in the illustrated example is formed .of plastic, although other materials might be used.

In this form, the garment hanger 10 would be identical in shape to the garment hanger 10, and would include arms 12*. Fingers 22 would include body portions 24 the curved shape of which duplicates that of the fingers 22.

In other words, the body portion 24*- has a downwardly rearwardly curving distal .end portion 26 Further, the body portions of the respective fingers would converge both forwardly and downwardly the same as in the first form of the invention.

vIn this form, thebody portion 24 is molded integrally with the arm 12 as a projection upon the front surface of the arm12 (see FIG. 7).

No adjustment, of course, would .be possible, in this particular form' of the invention. .In FIGS. 8iand 9, there is shown another form. Again,

the finger 22 providedupon each arm 12, wouldbe ada justably, detachably connectable to a completely conventional arm 12 of a garmentihanger 10. The finger includes a bodyportion 24 the shape of which is identical to that of the first form of the invention. In this form, the body portion 24 has a transversely extending, down- :wardly opening recess 28, snugly receiving the arm 12.

The body portion 24 'might bemade of plastic in this form of the invention, and as will be noted, the recess 28 is disposed close to the back surface of the body As a'result, there is provided a spring tongue 36, having at its distal, lower end an inwardly projecting lip 38. A lip it) is formed upon the lower end of the opposed, stationary wall 42 of the recess'28 In this form of the invention, the spring tongue can be swung outwardly to its dotted line position of FIG. 8, in the manner shown, so as to permit the arm 12 to be moved out of the recess 28 When the tongue is released, it'moves to the full line position shown in FIG. 8. In this position of the parts, the lips engage the underside 44 of "the arm 12. There is a frictional engagementof the 22* to the garment hanger.

thus completely. removable, and adjustable longitudinally of arm. 12.

is still moisture in the fabric.

4 tongue against the arm, so that the arm is clamped between the tongue and the wall 42. This holds the device in selected positions of adjustment. Yet, the device is completely removable, as will be readily seen.

Referring now to FIG. 10, there is here shown another form of the invention, generally designated 22. This form of the invention, like the forms of FIGS. 1 and 8, is attachable to a completely conventionalgarment hanger 19.

This form of the invention includes a body portion 24 which is sectionally constituted. The body portion includes an inner or proximal section designated by the reference numeral 46. There is also a distal section 48. The sections 46, 48, cooperate to define the body portion 24, cooperating in producing a finger shaped like that of the remaining forms of the invention.

Proximal section 46 has a downwardly opening, transverse recess 23 identical to recess 28 Therefore, section 46 has a spring tongue 46 formed with lip 38 that is in confronting relation to lip 40 provided at the lower end of wall 42.

The connection of the finger 22 to the garment hanger is thus substantially identical to the connection of finger The device of FIG. 10 is It frictionally engages the arm in eachv position to which it is adjusted.

This form of the invention, however, differs from all the preceding forms in that the distal end portion of the finger canbe. adjusted'relativeto theproximalendportion. Thus, section 48 pivots'uponsection 46 about-a transverse axis. It is adapted to be fixed in selected posital end portion of the finger so that the finger can beprojected in a shape to fit the particular garment. After the adjustment is made the nut is tightened so that the head of thescrew and the nut tend to shift toward each other the ears or fork arms.54, which are of slightly springable characteristics. The inner surfaces of the fork arms thus bind against the opposite sides of the tongue 50. The

contacting surfaces of the tongue and fork arms can be roughened, toothed, or-otherwise formed to insure that the tongue will be firmly gripped between the fork arms.

vIn all forms of the invention, it is the-common characteristic wherein the device willsupport the shoulder portion of the garment immediately adjacent a sleeve. The device holds the shoulders and sleeve of the garment in place exactly as if the suit'coat were being worn, or positioned upon a dummy. This keeps the sleeves from cracking or wrinkling at a location about at the middle of the-armhole. Adeficiency noted in connection with conventional hangers is thus eliminated.

The. device would be most effective in mens suit shops, or perhaps in the stockrooms oflargestores. Still further, in tailor shops the device has effective use. It will be noted, in many instances, both in a tailor shop or in .a retail clothing store, pressing of the garments that have been purchased or have been cleaned is a continuing requirement. By use 'of'the device, the garment may be hung upon a hanger equipped with the fingers while there The device maintains the garment against cracking in the circumstances, at a time when such wrinkling or cracking of the sleeve is most likely to occur.

The device can'be made integral with the hanger and be used in the home, and at all times serves'to maintain the garment in a wrinkle-free manner at the location of the shoulders and the tops of the sleeves.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent A garment hanger having oppositely disposed arms sloping into a collar supporting portion, a hook attached to said collar supporting portion, adjustable sleeve supporting fingers, said fingers having elongated tapering body portions with one end enlarged, said enlarged ends having upwardly opening transverse recesses for effecting the connection of the fingers to the sloping arms, said recesses being of a cross-sectional shape substantially duplicating the cross-sectional shape of the sloping arms, said enlarged ends having recesses at the sides thereof adjacent the upwardly opening recesses and having threaded bores connecting the side recesses and the upwardly opening recesses, the other end of the body portions having downwardly and rearwardly curved portions, said fingers being slidably adapted to ride upon said sloping arms, and clamping screws extending through the bores into the recesses in the sides and engaging the sloping arms holding the fingers in moved adjusted position along the arms.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,470,456 Lemke Oct. 9, 1923 2,108,853 Ghazal Feb. 22, 1938 2,457,776 Goldlust Dec. 28, 1948 2,525,142 Levinson Oct. 10, 1950 2,639,066 Kinney et al. May 19, 1953 2,912,148 Lawnhurst Nov. 10, 1959

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