US3260427A - Clothes hanger hold down clamp - Google Patents

Description

July 12, 1966 c. E. GINGHER CLOTHES HANGER HOLD DOWN CLAMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 20, 1964 INVENTOR.

CARL E. GINGHER BY W Y July 12, 1966 c. E. GINGHER CLOTHES HANGER HOLD DOWN CLAMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 20, 1964 INVENTOR.

CARL E. GINGHER United States Patent Office 3,260,427 CLOTHES HANGER HOLD DOWN CLAMP Carl E. Gingher, 104 Gentilly Drive, Scranton, Pa. Filed May 20, 1964, Ser. No. 368,948 15 Claims. (Cl. 223-91) The present invention relates to garment holders, more particularly, to a clothes hanger having a clamping member for holding down garments supported on the cross bar of the hanger.

A popular form of clothes hanger comprises a curved shoulder bar for supporting garments with a cross bar interconnecting the ends of the shoulder bar and also for supporting garments, usually trousers or slacks. The trousers are folded over the cross bar but are susceptible of sliding off if the hanger is suddenly or vigorously han dled. Accordingly, many different solutions have been proposed to retain the trousers on the cross bar under all conditions. Such solutions generally comprise the use of a clamping structure to clamp the trousers against the cross bar or applying a non-skid surface to the cross bar, or a combination of both.

While many forms of clamping structures have been proposed, none have attained great popularity. Such clamping arrangements may be generally said to have one or more of several disadvantages, such as a complicated structure, diflicult in operation, short operating life or too expensive to manufacture in view of the relatively low price of clothes hangers.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved clothes hanger assembly including a hold down clamp arrangement for retaining garments on the cross bar of the hanger.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hold down clamp arrangement for clothes hangers which is simple in construction and can be readily ma. nipulated with a minimum of effort.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hold down clamp arrangement for clothes hangers which will securely retain garments on the cross bar but which can be easily released to permit removal of these garments.

The objects of the present invention are attained and the disadvantages of previously known hangers are avoided by the improved clamping arrangement disclosed herein. In this invention the clothes hanger assembly includes a curved shoulder bar for supporting garments with a hanger hook upstanding from the shoulder bar and a cross bar interconnecting the ends of the shoulder bar. The hold down clamp arrangement comprises a hold down member which is pivotally mounted on the shoulder bar for pivotal movement between a hold down position against the upper surface of the cross bar and a release position spaced away from the cross bar. The pivotal connection with the shoulder bar is located between the hold down and release positions. A spring urges the hold down member toward the hold down position when it is on the hold down side of the pivotal connection and toward the release position when the hold down member is on the release side of the pivotal connection.

The hold down member preferably comprises a pair of clamps which are spaced on a rod and are slidably mounted thereon. The spring is mounted on the rod and engages the inner ends of the clamps so as to urge the clamps away from each other. A U-shaped link pivotally connects each clamp to the shoulder bar.

Several modifications of the shape of the links and the mounting of the clamps on the rod are also disclosed.

Another form of clamping arrangement comprises a bar which is pivotally connected to the shoulder bar by resilient links which function to urge the bar toward either the hold down or release positions.

3,26%,42? Patented July 12, 19%6 Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon reference to the accompanying description when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an overall perspective view of the clothes hanger of the present invention looking downwardly upon the hanger from the front thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of one end of the hanger viewed from below showing the manner in which the cross bar is secured to the ends of the shoulder bar;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view in perspective illustrating the attachment of the hand grip member to the underside of the shoulder bar;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of the uppermost portion of the hanger, partially in section, showing the attachment of the hanger hook to the shoulder bar;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG- URE 5 but showing a modified link structure;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 1 but only of the lower portion of the hanger and showing a modification in the hold down clamp arrangement;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 7 and showing a further modification in the hold down clamp arrangement;

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 1010 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 7 and showing another modification of the hold down clamp arrangement;

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 12-12 of FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 7 and showing still another modification of the hold down clamp arrangement; and

FIGURE 14 is :a sectional view similar to that of FIG- URE 5 but of the lower portion thereof to show a cushion in the hold down clamp.

A specific embodiment and several modifications of the present invention will next be described in detail with reference to the drawings wherein like reference symbols indicate the same parts throughout the various views.

Referring to FIGURES 14 there is shown a clothes hanger of the present invention indicated generally at 1 and comprising a shoulder bar 2 formed from a channel member and having an inverted U-shaped cross section. The shoulder bar 2 forms the main support for garments hung thereon. To support the hanger, a hanger hook 3 having a shank portion 4 is secured to the shoulder bar at the midsection thereof. The shank 4 is inserted through an opening 5 in the shoulder bar. The inserted portion of the shank is bent at 6 and secured to the underside of the shoulder bar, such as by welding, as shown in FIGURE 4.

The hook 3 is formed of wire and may be plated or coated with a suitable metal to enhance its appearance and to improve resistance to corrosion and wear.

Between the inner faces of the ends 7 and 8 of the shoulder bar 2, there is provided a bottom cross bar 9 which similarly comprises a channel member of inverted U-shaped cross-section. The cross bar 9 is secured in position by clamping the parts together as shown in FIGURE 2. As illustrated, the bottom ends 10 of the shoulder bar 2 are rounded and then turned inwardly and upwardly. The abutting ends of the cross bar 9 are bent downwardly as at 11 to fit closely within the socket 12 formed at the end of the shoulder bar. The bent end 11 of the cross bar is spot welded to the shoulder bar as indicated at 13.

In order to strengthen the hanger or to provide a convenient hand grip for the hanger, a hand grip member 14 is attached to the underside of the mid-section of the shoulder bar 2 as shown in FIGURES l and 3. The hand grip member 14 has a U-shaped cross-section with a flat bottom wall 15 and upstanding side walls 16 and 17. The upper edges of the side walls 16 and 17 are curved to conform to the shoulder bar so as to fit snugly within the underside of the shoulder bar. These are extensions 18 at both ends of the bottom wall 14 and the extensions are spot welded to the underside of the shoulder bar as indicated at 19.

The broad side walls 16 and 17 of the hand grip member may also be used to carry various marking thereon for advertising purposes or for identification. The hanger of this invention may also be constructed and used without the hand grip member, if desired.

The garment hold down arrangement is indicated at 20 and comprises a pair of hold down clamps 21 and 22 which also have inverted U-shaped cross-sections. The top surface of the clamp, indicated at 23, has a downwardlypunched strip portion 24. A rod 25 is slidably received between the underside of the top surface and the punched portion of each clamp, as shown in FIGURE 5, so that the clamps 21 and 22 are slidably mounted on said rod. A coil spring 26 is mounted on the rod 25 between the clamps 21 and 22 with the ends of the spring engaging downwardly bent portions 27 on the inner ends of the clamps to urge the clamps away from each other.

The length of the rod 25 is slightly less than the distance between the outer ends of the clamps when the clamps are closest to each other. This occurs when both links and the rod 25 are aligned to define a straight line. Thus, both ends of the rod 25 will never contact the outer ends of the clamps at the same time, but the rod is still sufiicient-ly long that the ends of the rod will not slip out of the punched strip portions 24 on the clamps when the clamps are furthest apart.

The outer ends of the clamps are formed into tubular portions 28. The bottom edges of the clamps 21 and 22 may be flared outwardly at 29, as shown in FIGURE 6 to conform more closely to the contour of the cross bar 9.

The clamps 21 and 22 are each pivotally connected to the shoulder bar at a point about one-half of the vertical distance from the top of the cross bar 9 to the bottom 15 of the hand grip member 14 by U-shaped links 30. The links 30 have closed ends 31 which are hingedly retained in the tubular portions 28 on the outer ends of the clamps 21 and 22. The legs 32 of the links 30 are flared outwardly at 33 so that the major portion of the legs are spaced further apart than the Width of the shoulder bar 2 as may be seen in FIGURE 5. The extreme ends 34 of the legs of the links are bent inwardly at 35 and inserted through holes 36 in the flanges of the shoulder bar to connect pivotally the links 30 with the shoulder bar.

As will be evident from FIGURE 1, the tension force of the spring 26 will urge the clamps 21 and 22 apart until the clamps engage the upper surface of the cross bar in a hold down position. Any garments on the cross bar 9 will be pressed against the cross bar by the clamps 21 and 22 to be retained thereon.

To release the garments, the links can be easily flicked upwardly with the fingers to the release position indicated by the phantom lines in FIGURE 1. Here also, the tension force of the spring 26 urges the clamps outwardly until the movement of the entire clamping arrangement is limited by the flared portions 33 of the legs of the links contacting the edges of the shoulder bar. The clamps will then be held in this release position by the spring 26 until the clamping arrangement is moved downwardly to the hold down position.

To facilitate the movement of the clamps between the hold down and release positions, the closed ends 31 of the links 30 are aligned with the rod 25 in a straight line. While the clamps can be activated if the link closed ends, i.e. pivotal connections are not aligned with the rod, the operation is considerably smoother and can be carried out easier when this alignment is present.

By positioning the rod adjacent the upper surfaces of the clamps, the rod 25 and spring 26 are spaced sufficiently above the cross bar 9 to provide sufficient clearance to accommodate easily extra thicknesses of material caused by seams of trousers and skirts at this center location.

The various hanger components, such as the shoulder and cross bars, clamps and hand grip member, are formed from sheet metal and finished to desired colors by a permanent baked-on enamel. The engagement of the clamps upon the cross bar will secure garments therein, but, if desired, a cushion piece 37 such as of rubber, felt, plastic or other materials may be fastened in the U-shaped clamps as shown in FIGURE 14. In this arrangement, the cushioning piece 37 will engage the cross bar or garments in position upon the cross bar. Using such a cushioning piece will also prevent marring of the finish on the cross bar by the movement of the clamps to and from the hold down position.

The position of the spring 26 on the hold down clamp arrangement and the pivotal connections of the links with the shoulder bar and their respective clamps is such that the spring acts upon the clamps individually. When the pivot connection 28 of a link and its clamp is on the hold down position side of a straight line defined by the link in alignment with the rod 25, then the spring will urge that clamp to the hold down position. Similarly, when the pivot connection 28 is on the release side of that straight line, the spring will urge the clamp to the release position. When one clamp, for example clamp 21, is in the release position, the spring will act in the same manner on the other clamp 22; i.e. the position of the pivot connection 28 of the clamp 22 with respect to the straight line defined by the rod 25 in alignment with the respective link will determine to which position the spring will urge the clamp 22. However, when one clamp is in the release position, only the outer end of the other clamp will engage the upper surface of the cross bar 9.

Proceeding to FIGURE 6, there is illustrated a modified link 38 having a closed end 39 which is pivotally retained in the clamp tubular portion 28 as above but wherein the legs 40 are straight and substantially parallel to each other. The extreme ends 41 of the legs are bent outwardly at 42 to be inserted into the holes 36 in the flanges of the shoulder bar 2. The ends 43 of the bent portions 42 may be riveted to prevent withdrawal of the bent portions from the flange holes 36, thereby providing a permanent assembly. This type of link and manner of link connection to the shoulder bar may be used when it is desirable to have the entire hold down clamp arrangement nested within the shoulder bar, i.e. the clamp arrangement is narrower than the shoulder bar.

In the modification of FIGURES 7 and 8, the clamp hold down arrangement 20 has a rod 44 surrounded by the spring 26. The ends 45 and 46 of the rod 44 extend beyond the outer ends of the clamps 21 and 22. The inner ends of the clamps are bent downwardly at 47 and have holes 48 therethrough to slidably receive the rod 44. Similarly, the outer ends of the clamps are bend dowr' wardly at 49 and have holes 50 therein to receive the rod 44. The ends 45 and 46 of the rod are flattened at 51 to prevent the ends of the rod from being withdrawn through the clamp outer end holes 50.

There are opposed openings 52 in the outer ends of the clamp flanges adjacent the upper surfaces of the clamps to receive the closed ends 53 of links 54. The links 54 have straight parallel legs 55 with the outer ends 56 of the legs being bent inwardly at 57 and inserted into the openings 36 in the flanges of the shoulder bar. In this modification, the release position of the clamps is determined by the engagement of link closed ends 53 with edges of the flanges of the shoulder bar.

This modification has the rod 44 closer to the cross bar since the rod is positioned lower in the clamps in order to pass under the link closed ends 53 as shown in FIG- URE 8. The applications of this modification would be limited to supporting on the cross bar garments which do not have extra thicknesses of material as the result of seams or the like.

Proceeding next to FIGURES 9 and 10 there is shown another modification of the hold down clamps. The hold down arrangement comprises clamps 58 and 59 each of which has axially extending tubular portions 60 and 61 punched outwardly in the top surfaces thereof. The rod 25 is then slidably received in these tubular portions and upon the unpunched portion 62 of the clamp top surface. The clamps 58 and 59 are pivotally connected to the shoulder bar by links 63 which are similar to links 54 in FIGURE 7. The links 63 are hingedly connected to the clamps 58 and 59 in a manner similar to that described above for FIGURE 7.

In the modification of FIGURES 9 and 10 the rod 24 is positioned above the pivot connections of the clamps and links. As a result, greater tension in the spring 26 is necessary for the proper operation of this hold down clamp arrangement. Also, this ofl-center positioning of the rod makes this arrangement somewhat more difficult to operate.

Another characteristic of this modification is that the clamps nest closer to the hand grip member when in the release position.

With reference to FIGURES l1 and 12, there is shown a still further modification of the hold down clamp arrangement wherein one of the two clamps can remain in the hold down position against the cross bar while the other clamp is in the release position. In this modification, clamps 64 and 65 are formed of channel members and have inverted U-shaped cross-sections. The ends 66 and 67 are both bent downwardly. Opposed L-shaped slots 68 are formed in the flanges of the clamps to receive the closed ends of the links 69 which may be similar to the links of FIGURES 9 and 10.

On the top sides 70 of the clamps 64 and 65 are mounted tabs 71 which have holes therethrough to receive the rod 72. The ends 73 of the rod 72 are flattened to prevent withdrawal of the rod through the tab holes. The tab 71 may also be formed from the top surface of the clamps so as to be integral therewith. The tab holes are sufliciently greater in diameter than the rod 72 to permit pivoting movement of the rod with respect to the tab 71. With this construction, one clamp can remain in the hold down position while the other clamp is in the release position.

A tension spring 74 surrounds the rod 72 and acts upon the inner faces of the tabs 71 to urge the clamps 64 and 65 outwardly and thus, to retain the clamps in either the hold down or release positions.

Proceeding next to FIGURE 13, this modification of the hold down clamp arrangement comprises a single bar 75 connected to the shoulder bar by spring links 76. The bar 75 is formed of a channel member and has an inverted U-shaped cross-section. The ends of the bar are bent inwardly to form tubular portions 77 which pivotally receive closed ends 78 of the links 76. The links 76 are V-shaped but each of the legs 79 has a loop 80 therein. Also, the legs are each formed of two portions 81 and 82 which are at an angle, greater than with respect to each other. The extreme ends 83 of the legs are bent inwardly and inserted through openings 36 in the flanges of the shoulder bar 2.

' The links 76 are formed from spring wire and shaped so as to have a spring action exerted against the ends of the bar 75. The links function to retain the bar 75 in either the hold down or release positions since in the hold down position the forces exerted by the springs 76 urge 6 the bar 75 downwardly against the cross bar 9, whereas when the bar 75 is in the release position the forces exerted by the springs urge the bar 75 upwardly against the shoulder bar 2.

The bar 75 may be straight as in FIGURE 3 or may have the center portions of the flanges removed to provide clearance for extra thicknesses of material in garments supported on the cross bar. The bar may also have the edges flared outwardly, as at 29 in FIGURE 6, or may be provided with a cushioning piece as shown in FIGURE 14.

While the foregoing hanger assemblies have been described as being made of metal, all or only several of the hanger components may be made of synthetic plastics, such as heat-curable resins, e.g. epoxy resin, urea formaldehyde resin or the like. The plastic parts are preferably cemented together with a suitable cement or bonding agent, such as a polyester-styrene copolymer. By using such resinous cements plastic parts may be bonded to metal parts. This would permit-the cross bar 9 to be made of plastic and the shoulder bar 2 of metal. Also, the hand grip member 14 may be made of a plastic and then bonded to a metal shoulder bar. The hand grip member 14 may be formed of a transparent synthetic plastic with advertising or other markings applied to the inner surface of the side walls 16 and 17 where the markings are protected from obliteration due to handling of the clothes hanger.

The clothes hanger of this invention with any of the foregoing hold down clamp arrangements or modifications thereof may be used with or without the hand grip member. Further, any of the foregoing clamp or link constructions may be used interchangeably for particular applications.

Thus it can be seen that the present invention has disclosed a clothes hanger having an improved hold down clamp arrangement for retaining garments on the hanger cross bar. The clamp arrangement is not only simple in construction and easy to operate but exerts a positive clamping action to secure garments on the cross bar. The construction is such that the clamp arrangement can be easily and quickly moved away from the cross bar with a flick of the fingers to release the garments.

It will be understood that the particular construction and arrangement of the hanger as described above and illustrated in the drawings is not limitative of the invention since numerous changes and substitutions of parts may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the same being more particularly set out in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A clothes hanger comprising a curved shoulder bar for supporting a garment, a hanger hook upstanding from said shoulder bar, a cross bar interconnecting the ends of said shoulder bar, a garment hold down member having a rigid non-resilient clamp element pivotally mounted on said shoulder bar for pivotal movement between a hold down position against the upper surface of said cross bar and a release position away from said cross bar, said hold down member pivot mount being on that portion of the shoulder bar between said cross bar and said release position, and resilient means acting on said hold down member for retaining said hold down member in that one of said hold down and release positions to which said member is moved.

2. A clothes hanger comprising a curved shoulder bar for supporting a garment, a hanger hook upstanding from said shoulder bar, a cross bar interconnecting the ends of said shoulder bar, a garment hold down member including a pair of spaced hold down clamps, links pivotally connecting said clamps with said shoulder bar for pivotal movement between a hold down position against the upper surface of said cross bar and a release position away from said cross bar, and means for resiliently urging said clamps away from each other to maintain the spaced relationship therebetween.

3. In a clothes hanger having a curved shoulder bar for supporting a garment, a hanger hook upstanding from said shoulder bar, and a cross bar interconnecting the ends of said shoulder bar; a garment hold down arrangement comprising a pair of spaced axially movable hold down clamps, links pivotally connecting said clamps with said shoulder bar for pivotal movement between a hold down position against the upper surface of said cross bar and a release position away from said cross bar, said hold down position being on one side of the links pivotal connection with the shoulder bar and the release position on the other side of said pivotal connection, and means between said clamps for resiliently urging said clamps away from each other so that said clamps are retained in that one of said hold down and release positions to which the clamps are moved,

4. In a clothes hanger having a curved shoulder bar for supporting a garment, a hanger hook upstanding from said shoulder bar, and a cross bar interconnecting the ends of said shoulder bar; a garment hold down arrangement comprising a rod, a pair of hold down clamps slidably mounted on said rod, links pivotally connecting said clamps with said shoulder bar for pivotal movement between a hold down position against the upper surface of said cross bar and a release position away from said cross bar, said hold down position being on one side of the links pivotal connection with the shoulder bar and the release position on the other side of said pivotal connection, and a spring between said clamps for urging said clamps away from each other so that said clamps are retained in that one of said hold down and release positions to which the clamps are moved.

5. In a clothes hanger having a curved shoulder bar for supporting a garment, a hanger hook upstanding from aid shoulder bar, and a cross bar interconnecting the ends of said shoulder bar; a garment hold down arrangement comprising a rod, a pair of hold down clamps slidably mounted on said rod, links pivotally connecting said clamps with said shoulder bar for pivotal movement between a hold down position against the upper surface of said cross bar and a release position away from said cross bar, said hold down position being on one side of the links pivotal connection with the shoulder bar and the release position on the other side of said pivotal connection, and a spring mounted on said rod and engaging the inner ends of said clamps to urge said clamps away from each other so that said clamps are retained in that one of said hold down and release positions to which the clamps are moved.

6. In a clot-hes hanger having a curved shoulder bar for supporting a garment and having openings therein, a hanger hook upstanding from said shoulder bar, and a cross bar interconnecting the ends of said shoulder bar; a garment hold down arrangement comprising a pair of spaced axially movable hold down clamps, links pivotally connecting said clamps with said shoulder bar for pivotal movement between a hold down position against the upper surface of said cross bar and a release position away from said cross bar, said links being U-shaped with the closed ends being hingedly connected to said clamps and the extremities at the open ends of the links being bent and inserted into openings in said shoulder bar to form a pivotal connection therewith, said hold down position being on one side of the links pivotal connection with the shoulder bar and the release position on the other side of said pivotal connection, and means between said clamps for resiliently urging said clamps away from each other so that said clamps are retained in that one of said hold down and release positions to which the clamps are moved.

7. In a clothes hanger having a curved shoulder bar for supporting a garment, a hanger hook upstanding from said shoulder bar, and a cross bar interconnecting the ends of shoulder bar; a garment hold down arrangement comprising a rod, a pair of hold down clamps each having an inverted U-shaped cross-section with an inwardly punched strip portion to slidably receive said rod between said strip portion and the underside of the upper surface of the clamp, links pivotally connecting said clamps with said shoulder bar for pivotal movement between a hold down portion against the upper surface of said cross bar and a release position away from said cross bar, said hold down position being on one side of the links pivotal connection with the shoulder bar and the release position on the other side of said pivotal connection, and a spring mounted on said rod and engaging the inner ends of said clamps to urge said clamps away from each other so that said clamps are retained in that one of said hold down and release positions to which the clamps are moved.

8. In a clothes hanger as claimed in claim 7 and further comprising means retained in said hold down clamps and engageable with the upper surface of said cross bar for cushioning said clamps against said cross bar and for retaining garments thereon.

9. In a clothes hanger having a curved shoulder bar for supporting a garment, a hanger hook upstanding from said shoulder bar, and a cross bar interconnecting the ends of said shoulder bar; a garment hold down arrangement comprising a pair of spaced axially movable hold down clamps, upstanding tabs on said clamps having apertures therethrough, a rod slidably received in said apertures whereby said hold down clamps are slidably mounted therein, links pivotally connecting said clamps with said shoulder bar for pivotal movement between a hold down position against the upper surface of said cross bar and a release position away from said cross bar, said hold down position being on one side of the links pivotal connection with the shoulder bar and the release position on the other side of said pivotal connection, and a spring on said rod between said tabs and engageable with said tabs to urge said clamps away from each other so that said clamps are retained in that one of said hold down and release positions to which the clamps are moved.

10. In a clothes hanger as claimed in claim 6 wherein the legs of said links are substantially parallel and the extremities thereof are bent outwardly.

11. In a clothes hanger as claimed in claim 6 wherein the legs of said links taper outwardly and the extremities thereof are bent inwardly.

12. In a clothes hanger having a curved shoulder bar for supporting a garment, a hanger hook upstanding from said shoulder bar, and a cross bar interconnecting the ends of said shoulder bar; a garment hold down arrangement comprising a rod, a pair of hold down clamps slidably mounted on said rod, links pivotally connecting said clamps with said shoulder bar for pivotal movement between a hold down position against the upper surface of said cross bar and a release position away from said cross bar, and a spring between said clamps for urging said clamps away from each other so that said clamps are retained in that one of said hold down and release positions to which the clamps are moved, said rod passing through said clamps and extending outwardly of the outer ends thereof.

13. A garment hanger assembly comprising a shoulder bar having an inverted U-shaped cross-section for supporting a garment, a cross bar of inverted U-shaped crosssection secured thereto and extending between the opposite ends of said shoulder bar, a hanger hook connected to said shoulder bar for supporting said hanger, a pair of spaced hold down clamps each having an inverted U- shaped cross-section and engageable with the upper surface of said cross bar, a rod slidably supporting said clamps thereon, U-shaped links having the closed ends thereof hingedly connected to said clamps and the extremities at the open ends of the links being pivotally connected with said shoulder bar, said clamps having a pivotal movement between a hold down position against the upper surface of said cross bar and a release position away from said cross bar, and a spring mounted on said rod and engaging the inner ends of said clamps to urge said clamps away from each other so that said clamps are retained in that one of said hold down and release positions to which the clamps are moved.

14. In a clothes hanger having a curved shoulder bar for supporting a garment, a hanger hook upstanding from said shoulder bar, and a cross bar interconnecting the ends of said shoulder bar; a garment hold down arrangement comprising a rigid garment hold down bar engageable with the upper surface of said cross bar to define a hold down position, and resilient means pivotally connecting the ends of said hold down bar with said shoulder bar for movement between said hold down position and a release position away from said cross bar and for yieldably retaining the hold down bar in that position to which said hold down bar is moved, the distances between the ends of said bar and the respective pivot mounts on said shoulder bar varying as said bar moves between said hold down and release positions.

15. In a clothes hanger having a curved shoulder bar for supporting a garment, a hanger hook upstanding from said shoulder bar, and a cross bar interconnecting the ends of said shoulder bar; a garment hold down arrangement comprising a rod, a pair of hold down clamps slidably mounted on said rod, links pivotally connecting said clamps with said shoulder bar for pivotal movement between a hold down position against the upper surface of said cross bar and a release position away from said cross bar, said rod and the pivotal connections of said links to said clamps being aligned in a straight line, said hold down position being on one side of the links pivotal connection with the shoulder bar and the release position on the other side of said pivotal connection, and a spring between said clamps for urging said clamps away from each other so that said clamps are retained in that one of said hold down and release positions to which the clamps are moved.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,206,348 11/1916 MacPherson 223-91 2,527,869 10/ 1950 Wintergreen 22391 2,886,224 5/1959 Bourne 22391 2,963,207 12/1960 Glowka 22391 3,054,539 9/1962 Deutsch et al. 22391 3,086,687 4/1963 Glowka 22391 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. G. H. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A CLOTHES HANGER COMPRISING A CURVED SHOULDER BAR FOR SUPPORTING A GARMENT, A HANGER HOOK UPSTANDING FROM SAID SHOULDER BAR, A CROSS BAR INTERCONNECTING THE ENDS OF SAID SHOULDER BAR, A GARMENT HOLD DOWN MEMBER HAVING A RIGID NON-RESILIENT CLAMP ELEMENT PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHOULDER BAR FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN A HOLD DOWN POSITION AGAINST THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID CROSS BAR AND A RELEASE POSITION AWAY FROM SAID CROSS BAR, SAID HOLD DOWN MEMBER PIVOT MOUNT BEING ON THAT PORTION OF THE SHOULDER BAR BETWEEN SAID CROSS BAR AND SAID RELEASE POSITION, AND RESILIENT MEANS ACTING ON SAID HOLD DOWN MEMBER FOR RETAINING SAID HOLD DOWN MEMBER IN THAT ONE OF SAID HOLD DOWN AND RELEASE POSITIONS TO WHICH SAID MEMBER IS MOVED.

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