US3386589A - Hanger apparatus for use in moving vehicles - Google Patents

Description

June 4, 1968 E. PRETE, JR 3,386,589

HANGER APPARATUS FOR USE IN MOVING VEHICLES Filed Marh v, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 47 fNve-wrok. EeA/esr Pee r5 J'e /Maya, 6mm

June 4, 1968 E. PRETE, JR 3,386,589

HANGER APPARATUS FOR USE IN MQVING VEHICLES Filed March v, 1966 1'2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L56. 6.

fm ewrw. L-ENESTPRETE, Jk.

United States Patent 3,386,589 HANGER APPARATUS FOR USE IN MOVING VEHICLES Ernest Prete, IL, 21145 Mulholland Drive, Woodland Hills, Calif. 91364 Filed Mar. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 532,391 8 Claims. (Cl. 211-118) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A clothing hanger apparatus including a head member to be removably suspended in a vehicle below the vehicle headliner, a body portion to receive an article of clothing to be hung within the vehicle in a generally vertical position, journal means associated with the hanger body and head for pivotally mounting the body means for movement from a vertically depending clothes hanging position of use to a generally inverted, vertically upwardly extending, position of non-use adjacent the vehicle headliner while said hanger body is removably mounted within said vehicle and spring or resilient friction holding means for holding the body portion in its generally inverted, out-of-the-way, position of non-use within the vehicle when the apparatus is not being used for hanging clothing vertically therein.

Background of the invention This invention relates in general to a hanger apparatus for use in hanging clothing or similar articles in moving Vehicles which is adapted to be easily placed in an outof-the-way position when not in use to hang an article of clothing. More particularly, the present invention relates to such clothing hanger apparatuses particularly adapted for use in moving vehicles which may be employed for hanging clothes or other articles from a position in the vehicle at a side Wall thereof adjacent the vehicle headliner or top and wherein the major portion or body of the hanger may be inverted into an out-of'the- Way position extending generally upwardly against or adjacent the headliner of the vehicle securely and free of rattling or movements which might distract the vehicle driver or passengers.

In many vehicles, such as automobiles, a conventional coat hook is positioned at a side wall genenally above the vehicle rear seat and adjacent the vehicle inner top or headliner. Such coat hooks do not allow the hanging of clothing in the more desirable fashion as that provided by conventional coat hangers employed in places of stationary use, such as in use in the clothes closets of most homes. I have further found that it is objectionable to use a conventional coat hanger for hanging clothing on the coat hooks normally provided in automobiles because of the inconvenience and annoyance of nattling and movement of such coat hangers in the automobile or vehicle when not in use.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to disclose and provide a clothing hanger apparatus particularly adapted for use in hanging clothing in moving vehicles which can be easily stored or placed in an out-of-theway position adjacent its location of use when clothing is not hung thereon.

It is a primary object of the present invention to disclose a clothing hanger as in the foregoing object wherein a head portion of the hanger may be positioned on or at the location of use of a conventional Coat hook found in automobiles and wherein the hanger apparatus body is adapted to be easily moved to and held in an inverted position, relative to the head portion, extending generally upwardly adjacent the headliner or inner top of the vehicle or automobile.

It is another object of the present invention to disclose a clothing hanger apparatus as in the foregoing objects wherein the hanger body is pivotally connected to the head portion to be pivoted into an inverted position extending upwardly against the headliner and means are provided for biasing or holding the body portion in such inverted position with the outer free end of the body abutting the vehicle inner top or head liner in a secure rattle-free position.

It is another object of the present invention to disclose and provide a clothing hanger apparatus as in the foregoing objeots wherein the hanger body is easily separable from the head portion thereof to facilitate placing clot-hing or articles of apparel on the body portion and hanging thereof from the head portion.

It is a further object of the present invention to disclose and provide a clothing hanger apparatus, as in the foregoing objects, wherein the body portion is separable from the head portion to facilitate its inversion and re-assembly to the head portion in an inverted position extending generally upwardly against the headliner of the vehicle.

It is a still further object of the present invention to disclose and provide a clothing hanger apparatus for use in hanging clothing from a hook, such as a conventional coat hook in automobiles, adapted to be easily carried by such hook in an out-of-the-way position with a body portion inverted and extending upwardly against the vehicle headliner by means of resilient means associated with the head member and body portion which allow the body to be readily moved into a lowered operable position ready for use in hanging clothing or other articles of apparel.

These and other objects as well as various advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following detailed explanation of exemplary embodiments of the clothing hanger apparatus, in accordance with the present invention. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of clothing hanger apparatus for use in hanging clothing in moving vehicles, according to the present invention, showing the hanger body placed in an inverted upwardly extending out-of-the-way position adjacent a vehicle headliner or interior ceiling;

FIG. 2 is a detail view of a portion of the exemplary hanger apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the portions of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 through 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative exemplary embodiment of clothing hanger apparatus, according to the present invention, for use in hanging clothing in moving vehicles showing a hanger body in dotted line in an alternative position of use;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 5 showing the hanger body in solid line in an inverted outof-the-way position when not in use and a preferred position of use for hanging clothing in dot-dash line;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a second alternative exemplary embodiment of clothing hanger apparatus, according to the present invention, showing the hanger body inverted into an out-of-the-way position when not in use for hanging clothing;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 7 showing the hanger body, in dotted line, in a position of use for hanging clothing thereon; and

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a third alternative exemplary embodiment of clothing hanger apparatus, according to the present invention, for use in hanging clothing in moving vehicles.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 through 4, a preferred exemplary embodiment of the clothing hanger apparatus, according to the present invention, for use in hanging clothing in moving vehicles will be described in detail. In FIG. 1 a vehicle interior ceiling, top or headliner is indicated generally at and the vehicle interior side wall is indicated generally at 11. A convention coat hook 12 is shown with its base 13 attached in conventional manner to a generally curved portion of the vehicle interior at the side wall indicated generally at 11 adjacent the vehicle interior top or headliner indicated generally at 10. A hook 14 is mounted by the base 13 to receive a coat or other article of apparel directly thereon when employed in its conventional use.

According to the present invention, a preferred exemplary embodiment of clothing hanger apparatus, indicated generally at 15, is hung on the coat hook 12 which, as shown, assumes an inverted out-of-the-way position when not in use to avoid rattling or distracting movements which might annoy or disturb the vehicle occupants. The exemplary hanger body portion, which may be a wire body 40 as seen in FIG. 1, is mounted by connecting or journal means, indicated generally at 30 to a head portion suspended from hook 14.

The head member 20, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, may be made from two mating stamped head sections or halves 21 and 22. An opening or eye means 23 is provided by the head sections 21 and 22 to allow suspending of the head member 20 on hook 14 of the coat hook 12. Bosses 24- and 25 may be provided on the head sections or halves 21 and 22, respectively, to provide a snug fit as desired for the head member between the 'base 13 and hook 14 when assembled to the coat hook 12, as seen in FIG. 1. A fastening means, such as rivet 26, may be employed for holding the head sections or halves 21 and 22 together in assembled relationship.

Hanger body 40 is adapted to receive an article of clothing or other apparel when in its lowered upright position of use, as seen in dotted or phantom line in FIG. 1. Body 40 may be made of coat hanger Wire and includes a pair of convergent side members 41 and 42 with a web or horizontal span member 43. Each of the convergent side members 41 and 42 is provided with top portions 44 and 45, respectively, which are inclined to the side members and generally parallel to the span 43.

Means are provided for holding the hanger wire body portion on the apparatus head member in a generally inverted position relative to the head member and in an out-of-the-way position extending generally upwardly adjacent the headliner of the vehicle, as seen in solid line in FIG. 1. In the preferred exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4, such holding means includes first the provision of journal means, indicated generally at 30, on the head member 20 for rotatably mounting the hanger body portion 40 on head member 20. As seen in FIG. 3, the head member sections 21 and 22 are provided with inwardly concave portions 31 and 32 to rotatably journal or mount the hanger wire body top portion 44 to head member 20. An inner end 46 of hanger wire body top member 44 is rotatably journaled or mounted in a central journal means 33 on head member 20, journal means 33 being formed by two inwardly concave portions on sections 21 and 22 as journal portions 31 and 32. The other hanger wire body top portion and its inner end 47 are respectively mounted in journal or connecting means 34 provided on head member 20 and the head member central journal means 33. Journal or connecting means 34 for mounting the hanger wire body top member or portion 45 may be provided by opposed inwardly concave portions of head member 20, as portions 31 and 32 of FIG. 3 mount member 44. The head sections or halves 21 and 22 may be assembled with the hanger wire body top portions or members 44 and 45 received in the inwardly concave journal or connecting portions provided in the head member prior to fastening the sections or halves together by the rivet means 26.

In the preferred exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4, the means for holding the hanger body portion 40 in a generally inverted position relative to the head portion 20 also includes the provision of biasing means to bias body portion 40 into such inverted position when not in use. Such biasing means in the preferred exemplary embodiment includes the spring means indicated generally at 50 or biasing body portion 40 upwardly against the headliner, indicated generally at 10, as seen in FIG. 1. The exemplary spring means includes, as seen in FIG. 4, a torsion spring 51 having protruding free ends 52 and 53. A spring mounting or collar member 54, as seen in FIG. 4, is provided with a bore 55 to be slidably received on the hanger wire body top arm portion or member 47. Collar or spring mounting member 54 includes a head portion 56 and a reduced body portion 57. A transverse slot 58 is provided in the head portion 56 to slidably receive the flattened portion provided in the hanger wire body top arm portions 45 and 47 When collar member 54 is slidably mounted onto hanger wire body arm portion 47 with the flattened portion 60 received in slot 58, the collar member 54 is non-rotatably connected to the hanger wire body 40.

Torsion spring 51 is slidably mounted onto the body portion 57 of collar member 50 with the horizontally or axially protruding end 53 received in transverse slot 58. Spring 51 is thereby non-rotatably positioned on collar 54. The depending or laterally extending end 52 is locked or held against rotation or movement by being positioned between the clamped head sections or halves 21 and 22, as shown at 59 in FIG. 2. Head sections or halves 21 and 22 may be provided with inwardly concave portions, as indicated generally at 59, to receive and lock the free end 52 of spring 51 therebetween when the halves are held together by the rivet means 26. Spring 51 may be assembled to the collar member 54 fixed upon hanger wire arm 47 and to the head portion 20 in relaxed or non-torsioned relation thereto. The hanger body 40 may then be hung by head portion 20 upon the coat hook 12 for use in hanging clothing with the spring means, indicated generally at 50, in a relaxed position.

When it is desired to place the hanger wire body 40 in its upwardly extending out-of-the-way position, as seen in FIG. 1, the head member 20 may be rotated one full revolution counter-clockwise in FIG. 3 about the hanger wire body arm portions 44 and 45. Such rotation of head member 20 relative to the hanger wire body 40 will load or activate the spring means, indicated generally at 50, so that it exerts a biasing force tending to cause relative rotation between head member 20 and hanger body 40, the head member being urged in a clockwise direction in FIG. 3 with the hanger body portion being urged in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3. With the spring means so activated, or loaded, the head member 20 may be placed on coat hook 12 with the eye means 23 positioned over hook 14. The relative biasing of the spring 51 on head member 20 and hanger body 40 then causes head member 20 to seat its lower end against the vehicle side wall while the hanger body is urged snugly against the vehicle headliner. Such relative biasing of the head member 20 and hanger body 40 causes them to be securely and snugly positioned in a rattle-free out-of-the-way position when not in use.

When it is desired to use the hanger body 40 for hang ing a coat or other article of apparel, with the apparatus assembled to the coat hook 12 as hereinabove described, the hanger body 40 may be rotated downwardly about its journal or connecting means, indicated generally at 30, against the bias of the spring means indicated generally at 50. It is contemplated that the weight of the coat or other article hung on hanger body 40 will be sufiicient to overcome the spring bias of spring 51 tending to urge the hanger body back up against the vehicle headliner. However, if the article to be hung does not have sufficient weight, or if it is desired to remove the apparatus from coat book 12 in order to facilitate the hanging of such coat or article of clothing on hanger body 411, the apparatus may be easily removed from hook 14', allowing the spring means to be de-activated. After suspending the coat or other article of clothing on hanger body 40, the entire apparatus, indicated generally at 15, may then be rehung on the hook 14 with or without reactivating the spring means in the manner previously described.

Stop means may be provided between the head member and the hanger wire body portion for limiting relative rotation therebetween to facilitate the placing of the spring means in its active or loaded relationship de scribed above. In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4, such stop means includes the provision of a bend or lateral extension in one of the hanger body top arm portion, portions 44 and 46 as seen in FIG. 2. An opening 71 is provided in the head member 20 to allow unrestricted rotation or bend or lateral extension 70 therethrough except for the provision of a stop or abutment tab 72 on head member 20 extending into the opening 71. Both opening 71 and abutment tab 72 may be provided by providing mating elements of similar configuration on the halves or sections 21 and 22 to provide the opening and tab of FIG. 2 when the halves or sections are assembled.

When the spring means, indicated generally at 50, is in the relaxed state or position of that shown in FIG. 2, the bend 70 in the hanger body arm 44, 46 preferably abuts the front surface of the abutment or stop tab 72. The head member 20 may therefore be rotated in one direction only relative to the hanger body 40. Such allowed rotation for head member 20 is in a counter-clockwise direction, when viewed as in FIG. 3, to allow one full rotation thereof relative to hanger body portion 40 to apply the desired torque to torsion spring 51 to place it in its biasing relationship between the head member 20 and hanger body 40.

An alternative exemplary embodiment of clothing hanger apparatus, according to the present invention, for use in hanging clothing in moving vehicles is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this alternative exemplary embodiment, the head member is adapted to be mounted to a vehicle interior side wall or headliner adjacent the vehicle interior ceiling or top, as seen in H6. 6. Head member 120 in the alternative exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 includes a pair of side walls 121 and 122 formed integrally with a base or web portion 123. Base 123 may be attached to the vehicle side wall, indicated generally at 111, by a conventional fastening means, such as threaded screw 124. An upturned flange or hook portion 125 may be provided at the lower end of base 123 to serve as an alternative journal bearing or connecting means for mounting the hanger wire body 140, when in use for hanging clothing, as seen in dotted line in F IG. 5.

The preferred journal or connecting means for mounting the hanger wire body in the alternative exemplary embodiment are indicated generally at and include the provision of upwardly opening bearing means 131 and 132 formed in the head member side walls 121 and 122. As seen in FIG. 5, the bearing members or portions 131 and 132 may be formed integrally with side walls 121 and 122 extending outwardly from the head base or Web 123 to provide upwardly facing bearing surfaces 133 and 134 to pivotally support the hanger wire body top arms when in use for hanging clothing. Each journal or beating member or means 131 and 132 is also provided with a reentrantly formed portion 135 and 136, respectively, to provide the downwardly facing bearing surfaces 137 and 138, respectively, to retain the hanger wire body 140 from outward movement thereof under the spring bias of spring means, indicated generally at 150, as subsequently described.

The means for holding the hanger body 140 on the alternative exemplary head member 121 in a generally inverted position relative to said head member includes not only the aforedescribed journal or connecting means, indicated generally at 13%, but also includes the provision of biasing means to hold the body in such inverted position once it is rotated on the journal means into the inverted outof-the-way position, as seen in FIG. 6. A leaf spring 151 may be mounted to the head member base 123 by passing the fastening means, including screw 124, through a base portion 152 of the spring, as seen in FIG. 6. The top arm portion 141 of the hanger wire body 140 may be flattened to provide laterally extending wings 142 and 143, respectively. Leaf spring 151 is positioned on head member 120 to provide the free or leaf end 153 thereof in position to exert a biasing force against the flattened wing portion 142 of the hanger wire body 149. As seen in FIG. 6, wire body 140 may be rotated manually from the lowered position shown in phantom line into the raised inverted position shown in solid line. When moved or rotated on the journal members 131 and 132 into the inverted position of FIG. 6, the spring 151 tends to bias the wire body 140 through the wing 142 upwardly against the vehicle interior headliner in a rattle-free outoftheway position. The downwardly facing bearing surfaces 137 and 138 prevent the outward expulsion of the hanger body top arm portion 141 from the journal memmembers 131 and 132.

When it is desired to place the alternative exemplary embodiment of hanger body 140 in position for hanging a coat or other article of apparel thereon, the hanger body 141) may be merely manually rotated downwardly about the associated mounting means into an upright position ready for use. The clothing hanger construction of the alternative exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 as the additional advantage over that of FIGS. 1 through 4 in that the hanger body 146 is separable from the head member 120. Hanger body 140 may be removed from the journal or connecting means portions: 131 and 132 by merely lifting it out of the openings provided between the head side walls 121, 122 and the reentrantly folded portions 135 and 136 of the members 131 and 132, respectively. The spring bias of spring 151 normally maintains the wire body top arm portion 141 under inwardly folded portions 135 and 136 so that to remove the wire body 143 from head member 120, the spring free end 153 must be slightly depressed.

A second alternative exemplary embodiment is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In this alternative exemplary embodiment, the head member 220, as best seen in FIG. 8, includes a pair of side walls or flanges 221 and 222 formed integrally with a base or web portion 223. As seen in FIG. 7, the head member 220 may be mounted to a vehicle side wall, indicated generally at 211, by a conventional fastening means, as screw 224, passed through the head base 223. The lower end or tail portion of base 223 is provided with an upwardly folded portion or hook member 225 to support a hanger wire body 240 in position. for use in hanging clothing thereon.

Means for holding the body portion 240 on the head member 220 in a generally inverted position relative to the head member, in this second alternative exemplary embodiment, are indicated generally at 230. Such means includes the provision of a pair of spaced inclined slots 231 and 232 opening generally upwardly toward the vehicle interior headliner, indicated generally at 210. Slots 231 and 232 are preferably formed in the head member side walls or flanges 221 and 222 as seen in FIG. 8.

The hanger wire body 240 is provided with a generally flattened portion 242 on the top arm member 241. The top arm and flattened portion may be suspended from hook member 225 when the hanger body 249 is in use for hanging clothing. However, when the hanger body 240 is not in use and it is desired to place it in an out-oftheway position up against the headliner, indicated generally at 21%), it may be manually inverted and mounted in such inverted relation to the head member by sliding the flattened hanger body portion 242 into the mounting slots 231 and 232 on head member 220, as seen in FIG. 7. The angle of inclination of slots 231 and 232, the posi- I tioning of head member 226 relative to the headliner, indicated generally at 210, and the height of the hanger body 240 may be selected so that on sliding hanger flattened portion 242 into the mounting slots 231 and 232, the hanger body 246 is held snugly in non-rattling relation up against the headliner, indicated generally at 210, in its inverted out-of-the-way position. A resilient or biasing means, not shown, may be employed to promote a snug fit between the flattened portion and slots 231 and 232 if desired.

A third alternative exemplary embodiment of clothing hanger apparatus, according to the present invention, for use in hanging clothing in moving vehicles is shown in FIG. 9. In this alternative exemplary embodiment, the head member 320 is formed very much as that disclosed in the first alternative exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6. Head member 320 includes a pair of side flanges 321 and 322 formed integrally with a base or web portion 323. A conventional fastening means, as round-headed screw 324 may be employed for mounting the head member 320 at a vehicle inner side wall adjacent the inner head liner, such as at the location of coat hook 12 in FIG. 1 and in place thereof.

Head member 329 is provided with journal means, indicated generally at 339 for rotatably receiving a hanger body portion 346. The exemplary journal means includes the provision of journal members 331 and 332 extending outwardly of the head side flanges 321 and 322 to provide upwardly facing journal or bearing surfaces 333 and 334, respectively, to receive and support the hanger body top cross arm 341. Reentrantly folded portions 335 and 336 on members 331 and 332, respectively, provide downwardly directly bearing surfaces opposing surfaces 333 and 334 and allow removal of hanger body 340 from the journal or mounting means, thus provided.

The tail or lower portion of base 323 may have an upwardly folded or hook portion 325 for alternative use in hanging the hanger body 346 or other articles of clothing as may be desired. Preferably, however, the hanger body 340 is suspended from the journal or connecting means provided by the journal members 331 and 332. Thus far, this third alternative exemplary embodiment of FIG. 9 employs construction similar to that of the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6. However, no spring means, as spring 151, is mounted to the head member in this alternative exemplary embodiment as was done in that of FIGS. 5 and 6.

Biasing means for holding the hanger body 349 on the journal means including members 331 and 332 are provided in this third alternative exemplary embodiment, as

indicated generally at 350 in FIG. 9. Leaf-type spring 351 is provided with a main body portion 352 and is rotatably mounted to the hanger body top arm 341 by an end portion 353 folded or wrapped about arm 341. A spring arm 354 is folded back upon body 352 from a bend or bight portion 355 to resiliently engage the head of screw 324 when the hanger body 340 is mounted on the journal members 331 and 332. With hanger body arm 341 pivotally mounted in journal members 331 and 332 and the spring arm 354 resiliently engaging screw 324, the hanger body arm 341 is biased outwardly thereof under the reentrantly folded portions 335 and 336 of the journal members 331 and 332, respectively. However, the hanger body 340 may be easily separable from the journal means by overcoming the spring bias of spring 351 in raising arm 341 of the hanger body upwardly out of the upwardly opening journal members 331 and 332.

Means for holding the hanger body 340 on the head member 320 in a generally inverted position include an addition to the journal means indicated generally at 330, the provision of a snug friction fit between hanger arm 341 and the spring portion 353 in this third alternative exemplary embodiment. With the hanger body 340 and spring 351 assembled to the head member as hereinabove described, the hanger body 340 may be manually rotated between a lowered position of use for hanging clothing and a raised inverted position out-of-the-way when not in use. A serrated, knurled or roughened surface 342 may be provided on the hanger body upper arm member 341 about which spring portion 353 is folded or wrapped. Spring portion 353, being made of spring metal, preferably resiliently grasps or frictionally holds hanger body 34 in any position of rotation it is placed in relative to spring 351. When the hanger body 349 is rotated into an upwardly extending inverted position relative to the head member 320, the snug friction fit between spring member or portion 353 and the hanger top arm 342 maintains hanger body 349 in such upwardly extending inverted position against the vehicle interior headliner. At the same time, the spring bias of spring portion 354 abutting the head base 323 or screw 324 urges the hanger top arm 341 snugly into the semi-circular bearing surfaces provided by the journal members 331 and 332, and the inwardly folded or reentrantly folded portions 335 and 336.

From the foregoing detailed explanation of four exemplary embodiments of clothing hanger apparatus, according to the present invention, for use in hanging clothing or other articles in moving vehicles, it can be seen that the various foregoing objects have been attained by the present invention. The clothing hanger apparatus of the present invention can be easily stored or placed in an out-of-the-way position adjacent its location of use when clothing is not being hung on the hanger body portion thereof. The head portion of the hanger apparatus can be suspended on a conventional coat hook provided in automobiles or other vehicles or may be provided in place of such coat hook. In either event, the head member may be suspended at a vehicle interior side wall adjacent the vehicle headliner and suspend the hanger body for convenient use in hanging clothing or for holding the hanger body in an inverted position wherein it extends upwardly against the vehicle headliner. The vehicle body is pivotally mounted to the head member and may be removably connected thereto to allow removal of the hanger body for ease of use in placing clothing or other articles of apparel thereon. In each of the foregoing exemplary embodiments, the hanger body may be held in its inverted position snugly against the vehicle headliner so that the hanger apparatus is free of rattling, swinging or swaying movements or other characteristics which might be annoying or distracting to the vehicle driver or occupants.

Having thus described preferred and alternative exemplary embodiments of coat hanging apparatus, according to the present invention, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments, alterations, modifications or adaptations of the present clothing hanger apparatus may be made Within the scope of the present invention which is defined by and limited only by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A clothing hanger apparatus for use in hanging clothing in moving vehicles which is adapted to be hung in a vertically depending position of use and be easily placed in a generally inverted out-of-the-w-ay position adjacent the vehicle headliner or top when not in use, said hanger apparatus comprising.

a head member to be suspended in a vehicle below the headliner thereof;

a body portion to receive an article of clothing to be hung on the apparatus generally vertically within the vehicle when in use as a hanger;

journal means associated with said head member and body portion for pivotally mounting said body portion on said head member for pivotal movement from a vertically depending clothes hanging position of use to a generally inverted, vertically upward, position of a non-use adjacent said vehicle headliner; and

means for holding said body portion on said journal means in said generally inverted position relative to said head member.

2. The clothing hanger apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said head member includes means for removably mounting said head member to a vehicle hook normally provided in automotive vehicles adjacent the vehicle headliner.

3. The clothing hanger apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for holding said body portion on said journal means comprises:

biasing means for biasing said body in said inverted position when said article of clothing is removed from said body portion, said biasing means allowing rotation of said body into said vertically depending clothes hanging position of use to receive an article of clothing thereon.

4. The clothing hanger apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for holding said body portion on said journal means comprises:

resilient means associated with said head member and body portion providing a snug friction fit about said body portion for biasing said body portion into said inverted position after it has been rotated into said inverted position.

5. A clothing hanger apparatus for use in hanging clothing from a hook, such as a conventional coat hook in automobiles, adapted to be easily carried by said hook in an out-of-the-way position ready for use, said hanger apparatus comprising:

a head member including eye means for remova bly suspending said head member from a hook;

a body portion to receive an article of clothing to be hung by the apparatus;

connecting means for connecting said head member and body portion for relative rotation between a vertically depending clothes hanging position of use and a generally inverted position of non-use relative to said head member; and

means for biasing said body portion when in said inverted position relative to said head member to place said body portion in an out-ot-the-way position relative to said hook and head member when said head member is suspended from said hook.

6. Coat hanger device adapted to be easily stored in an out-of-the-way position when not in use comprising;

a hanger wire body for receiving an article to be hung;

a head member including means for removably suspending said head member at a location of use;

connecting means for pivotally connecting said head member to said wire body for rotation of said wire body relative to said head member between a vertically depending clothes hanging position of use and a generally inverted position of non-use with said hanger wire body extending generally vertically upward adjacent a headliner of said vehicle While said head member is removably suspended on said hook; and means for resiliently holding said wire body against movement out of said generally inverted position relative to said head member when said hanger wire body is not in use to hang an article thereon. 7. A clothing hanger apparatus for use in hanging clothing in moving vehicles which is adapted to be easily placed in an out-of-the-way position adjacent the vehicle headliner or top when not in use, said hanger apparatus comprising:

a head member to be suspended in a vehicle below the headliner thereof; a body portion to receive an article of clothing to be hung on the apparatus when in use as a hanger; means for holding said body portion on said head member in a generally inverted position relative to said head member and in an out-of-the-way position extending generally upwardly adjacent the headliner of the vehicle, said means for holding said body portion on said head member including:

journal means on said head member for rotatably mounting said body portion on said head member, said body portion being rotatable on said head member between an upright position of use and said inverted position, said journal means including upwar-dly opening bearing means for remo'va'bly supporting said body portion on said head member;

means are provided for urging said body portion downwardly onto said bearing means when said body portion is removably supported on said bearing means; and

biasing means to hold said body in said inverted position when rotated in said inverted position, said biasing means allowing rotation of said body into an upright position of use to receive an article of clothing thereon.

8. The coat hanger device of claim 6 wherein:

said hanger wire body is mounted by said head member and connecting means for non-rotatable movement of said Wire body in a plane passing through said wire body when said body is suspended in said vertically depending clothes hanging position of use.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 946,833 1/1910 Bake 211--99 1,605,682 11/1926 Mewborn 248-293 1,890,577 12/1932 Flake 248293 1,942,663 1/ 1934 Saunders 248-493 1,995,983 3/1935 Hesse 211-99 X 2,010,203 8/1935 Schuiling 211-99 2,707,565 5/1955 Evans 211- 104 CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner.

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