Abstract
A garment hanger is disclosed. The hanger comprises a body that includes at least one hook, two diagonal side legs, wherein the side legs may be of different lengths, and a horizontal bottom leg defining at least two notches. The elements of the hanger may be converged with one another at their respective ends using techniques for welding, adhesion, or the like, except the second end of one side leg remains detached. Alternatively, the entire body of the hanger, including all elements, may be formed in one continuous body using techniques for molding, stamping, three-dimensional printing, or the like.
Claims
1. A hanger comprising: a continuous body, including: at least one hook; a first side leg having a first end and a second end, wherein the first side leg converges with the hook at the first side leg's first end to form one continuous body; a horizontal bottom leg defining at least two notches and including a first and a second end, wherein the horizontal bottom leg first end converges with the second end of the first diagonal leg forming a vertex; and a second side leg having a first and a second end, wherein the first end of the second side leg converges with the second end of the horizontal bottom leg to form a vertex, the second side leg extending upward in the direction of the first side leg but not converging with the first side leg, wherein the first side leg, second side leg, and the horizontal bottom leg define an open space.
2. The hanger of claim 1, further including the hook, two diagonal side legs and the horizontal bottom leg converged with each other at their respective ends using molding, welding, or adhesion techniques.
3. The hanger of claim 1, further including the hook, two diagonal side legs and the horizontal bottom leg being formed as one continuous body using means for laser cutting, molding, stamping, or three-dimensional printing.
4. The hanger of claim 1, further including a horizontal bottom leg comprising a plurality of notches.
5. The hanger of claim 1 further including areas of intersection at the points of conversion between the side legs and the horizontal bottom leg forming vertices, wherein the hanger body adjacent the vertices has a larger width compared to that of the side and horizontal bottom legs.
6. The hanger of claim 1, wherein the second side leg includes one or more sections having varying slopes and wherein at least one section has a negative slope that defines an inwardly curved neck.
7. The hanger of claim 1, wherein the first side leg includes a first section having a negative slope that transitions at a second outwardly curved radius that transitions to a second section having a negative slope, wherein second section transitions to a third inwardly curved radius and the third radius converges with the horizontal bottom leg to form an angle.
8. The hanger of claim 7, wherein the third radius and the bottom horizontal leg define a third section defining a width greater than the width of horizontal bottom leg and the width of second section.
9. The hanger of claim 1, wherein the hook includes a top horizontal portion.
10. The hanger of claim 9, wherein the hook includes an inwardly rounded surface.
11. A hanger, comprising: At least one hook; A first diagonal side leg and a second diagonal side leg, each side leg having first and second ends, wherein the first side leg is longer longitudinally than the second side leg, the first side leg is converged with the hook at the first end of the first side leg to form one continuous body, and the second side leg is rounded inward at the second end of the second side leg; a horizontal bottom leg having at least two notches and a first and a second end, wherein the bottom leg is converged at first and second ends of the bottom leg with the second end of the first side leg and the first end of the second side leg, forming two vertices.
12. The hanger of claim 11, wherein the at least one hook, the two diagonal side legs, and the horizontal bottom leg are converged with each other at their respective ends using molding, welding, or adhesion techniques.
13. The hanger of claim 11, wherein, the at least one hook, the two diagonal side legs, and the horizontal bottom leg are formed as one continuous body using laser cutting, molding, stamping, or three-dimensional printing techniques.
14. The hanger of claim 11, wherein the horizontal bottom leg includes a plurality of notches.
15. The hanger of claim 11, wherein the vertices have larger width compared to that of the side and horizontal bottom legs.
16. The hanger of claim 11, wherein the second end of the second diagonal leg is not connected to the body of the hanger and is oriented, tilted or twisted inward.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The novel features and advances of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a hanger according to an exemplary embodiment in the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a frontal view of the hanger embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a side view of the hanger embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the hanger embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 5 is an alternative view of the hanger shown in FIG. 1, showing multiple notches formed in the bottom leg.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the figures, whenever the same element reappears in subsequent figures, it is denoted by the same reference numeral.
[0014] Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 shows a hanger 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hanger 100 may be used to hang various types of garments including, but not limited to, sleeved and sleeveless shirts, fully buttoned shirts and blouses, pants, brasseries, thin-strapped garments, and similar garment articles. Hanger 100 may be used to hang single and multiple articles of various garment types at once. Hanger 100 may be used to reduce collar stretching in various types of garments including, but not limited to, sleeved and sleeveless shirts, fully buttoned shirts and blouses, pullovers, buttonless shirts, polo shirts, t-shirts, turtlenecks, pants, brasseries, thin-strapped garments, and similar garment articles.
[0015] Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of the hanger 100 The hanger 100 includes least one hook 110 The hanger 100 further includes a first diagonal side leg 120 and a second diagonal side leg 130, each side leg 120, 130 having a first end 121, 132 respectively and a second end 122 133 respectively, wherein the first side leg 120 is longer longitudinally than the second side leg 130 The first side leg 120 is converged with the hook 110 at the first end 121 of the first side leg 120 to form one continuous body, and the second side leg 130 is oriented inward at the second end of the second side leg 133 instead of being connected to the hook 110 of hanger 100. The hanger 100 includes a horizontal bottom leg 140 having at least two notches, 141, 142, and a first and a second end 143, 144, wherein the bottom leg 140 is converged at first and second ends 143, 144 of the bottom leg 140 with the second end 122 of the first side leg 120 and the first end 132 of the second side leg 130, forming two vertices of angels 111 and 112. In one embodiment of the hanger 100, the hook 110, the two diagonal side legs 120, 130, and the horizontal bottom leg 140 are converged with each other at their respective ends using molding, welding, or adhesion techniques. Alternatively, the hanger 100 may define one continuous body by laser cutting, molding, stamping, or three-dimensional printing techniques to form the hook 110, the two diagonal side legs 120, 130, and the horizontal bottom leg 140. The vertices have a larger width compared to that of the side and horizontal bottom legs 120, 130, 140
[0016] Referring to FIG. 5, one embodiment of the hanger 100 consists of a unitary body, including at least one hook 110, a side leg 120 having a first end 121 and a second end 122, a side leg 130 having a first end 132 and a second end 133, and a horizontal bottom leg 140 having a first end 143 and a second end 144 The hook 110 converges with side leg 120 at first end 121 forming one continuous body. The side leg 120 at second end 122 converges with end 143 of bottom horizontal leg 140 furthering the one continuous body. The first end 132 of side leg 130 converges with second end 144 of bottom horizontal leg 140 furthering the continuous body. As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the side legs 120, 130 and the horizontal bottom leg 140 define a discontinuity (or open space) between the legs 120, 130, and 140 such that the second end 133 of side leg 130 does not converge with side leg 120 or bottom horizontal leg 140, but rather extends into the discontinuity. Together side legs 120 and 130 and bottom horizontal leg 140 form a continuous body that comprises the hanger 100, as best seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5.
[0017] The bottom horizontal leg 140 includes portions defining at least two notches 141 and 142 at or near ends 143 and 144 as best seen in FIG. 2 FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment where a plurality of notches extends the length of the bottom horizontal leg 140
[0018] As best seen in the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the hook 110 includes a top horizontal portion 114 that extends longitudinally to allow the hook to be grasped easily, facilitating easier handling and carrying of the hanger. The hook 110 is rounded inward, defining a first radius 115 The inner portion of hook 110 transitions into a downward line that forms section 109, which transitions into an inward curve 108 Curve 108 transitions into a line that forms section 107, which defines a width of side leg 120 The line 107 terminates at first notch 141 of the plurality of notches. At first radius 115, the outer portion of hook 110 transitions into a first section 116 having a negative slope, which converges with side leg 120. The first section 116 transitions at a second radius 117 oriented outward in a direction opposite the hanger 100 body center and transitions to a second section 118 of side leg 120, which has a negative slope. The second section 118 transitions to a third radius 119, defining an inwardly curved surface. The third radius 119 converges with first end 143 of horizontal bottom leg 140 to form first angle 111, wherein the third radius 119 and the bottom horizontal leg 140 define a third section 123 The third section 123 defines a width that is greater than the width of horizontal bottom leg 140 and the width of second section 118
[0019] With continued reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the first end 132 of the side leg 130 defines a fourth radius 126 that transitions into a first section 113 that converges at the second end 144 of bottom horizontal leg 140, creating a second angle 112 The fourth radius 126 transitions into a second section 129 having a positive slope relative to the horizontal axis. The second section 129 defines a fifth radius 134 that transitions into a third section 135 having a negative slope and defining a third angle 128 at second end 133 of side leg 130 At the side leg 130's end point 133, the third section 135 defines a neck 131 having a width and length that transitions at a sixth radius 137, which defines a line that transitions into third angle 128 Third angle 128 transitions into a line that forms section 138 that defines a width of side leg 130 The line that forms section 138 terminates at notch 142 of the plurality of notches. The width of side leg 130 is less than the width between notch 142 and first section 113 Referring to FIG. 2, the diagonal longitudinal length of side leg 130 may be shorter than that of side leg 120
[0020] As best seen in the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the neck 131 projects into the discontinuity (open space) between side legs 120 and 130, defining an open space between side legs 130, 120, and horizontal bottom leg 140 As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the body of the hanger 100 and the discontinuity (also described as an open space) between each of the legs 120, 130, and 140 permits garments to be moved between the side legs 120 and 130 and onto the horizontal bottom leg 140
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, FIG. 3 shows an illustrative embodiment of the side view of hanger 100 and FIG. 4 shows an illustrative embodiment of the bottom view of hanger 100. The legs 120 130, and 140, respectively, may be planar elements of uniform thickness converged with one another at their respective ends (except the second end 133 of side leg 130 remains free) to form one continuous plane as shown in the illustrative embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4. In an exemplary embodiment, hanger 100 may be made of a uniform thickness between 2 and 5 millimeters.
[0022] Hanger 100 shown in the exemplary embodiments may be made of any suitable material such as metal such as aluminum or steel, or similar metals; plastic; wood; carbon fiber; or similar materials. All elements of hanger 100, including the hook 110, the legs 120, 130, and 140, may be made of the same material as the hanger 100 to form a unitary body of uniform thickness and uniform finish as shown in the illustrative embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 2, all elements of hanger 100, including hook 110, legs 120, 130, and 140 may be converged with one another at their respective ends using any suitable converging means, including, but not limited to, molding, adhesion, welding, or similar techniques. Alternatively, the hook 110, legs 120, 130, and 140 may be formed as a single structure using machining means, including but not limited to, laser cutting, injection molding, blow molding, stamping, or three-dimensional printing techniques. Each of hook 110 and legs 120, 130, and 140, may be finished using any suitable metal, plastic, or wood finishing techniques including but not limited to, powder-coating, polished finishing, thermoplastic finishing, wood finishing techniques or similar metal, plastic, or wood finishing techniques.
[0024] Referring to the discontinuity describe at paragraphs [0013] and [0020], the discontinuity may also be created by other means such as tilting the second section 129 of side leg 130, twisting it, or the like. The discontinuity serves several purposes, including, but not limited to, allowing hanger 100 to more easily be inserted into a fully buttoned blouse or shirt or a narrow-collared shirt such as a t-shirt, polo shirt, turtleneck shirt, or similar garments having a narrow opening at the garment's neck portion. The discontinuity also allows the insertion of hanger 100 into various garment articles using only one hand and for certain garment types, including, but not limited to, pants, brassieres, sleeveless tops, and thin strapped tops, to be more easily suspended on bottom horizontal leg 140. The discontinuity may also allow for reduced rotation of hanger 100 while inserting hanger 100 into various garment articles.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 5, the respective ends 143 and 144 of bottom horizontal leg 140 may be joined to or integrally formed with side legs 120 and 130 using any suitable converging means, including, but not limited to, molding, adhesion, welding, or the like to form angles 111 and 112 of horizontal leg 140 Alternatively, legs 120, 130, and 140 may be formed as a single structure using machining means, including but not limited to, laser cutting, injection molding, blow molding, stamping, or three-dimensional printing techniques, to form angles 111 and 112 of horizontal leg 140 The vertices of angles 111 and 112 have increased width along the transverse direction compared to legs 140, 120 and 130. One benefit of the increased width is to enhance the durability of the hanger at the vertices, which are susceptible to greater stress.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 2, in the embodiment shown, bottom horizontal leg 140 includes at least two notches, 141 and 142, each located at or near bottom horizontal leg ends 143 and 144 respectively. The notches 141 and 142 may be substantially rectangular in shape as shown in FIG. 2. The notches 141 and 142 are not limited to be rectangular in shape but may also take the form of any other shapes such as circular, as exemplified in FIG. 5, or triangular. The notches may be engraved, extruded, carved, cut, or otherwise formed out of bottom horizontal leg 140 The notches are enclosed from the bottom and sides, and only open from the top as shown in the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 2. FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment, wherein a plurality of notches are formed along the horizontal bottom leg 140 In all embodiments, the two or more notches allow thin straps and similar garment elements to rest or to be suspended from the bottom horizontal leg 140 neatly and easily.
[0027] Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the shown figures are illustrated for simplicity and may be configured in different sizes, angles, and dimensions to accommodate various garment sizes. Skilled artisans will also appreciate that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention covers modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and equivalents.
