GARMENT HANGER SHEATH WITH HANGER INSERT
United States Patent 3807609
A removable sheath of an expanded plastic material such as Styrofoam, polyurethane or polystyrene having a horizontal bar and shoulder support bars to be used with a wire garment hanger. A slot extends through the removable sheath to enable the insertion therein of a wire garment hanger such that the only part of the wire hanger that extends beyond the boundaries of the removable sheath is the wire hanger hook. The horizontal bar and shoulder support bars are of a substantial thickness to prevent creasing of garments hanging therefrom.
US Patent References:
Garment support
Tomarin - April 1951 - 2559096
Garment protector
Landers - January 1965 - 3167224
Garment hanger
Aynes et al. - September 1961 - 3001675
Coat hanger cover
Sasaki - December 1952 - 2622775
Garment hanger
Friedman - June 1948 - 2444345
Garment support
Tomarin - April 1951 - 2559096
Garment protector
Landers - January 1965 - 3167224
Garment hanger
Aynes et al. - September 1961 - 3001675
Coat hanger cover
Sasaki - December 1952 - 2622775
Garment hanger
Friedman - June 1948 - 2444345
Application Number:
05/167142
Publication Date:
04/30/1974
Filing Date:
07/29/1971
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
223/98
International Classes:
A47G25/36; A47G25/00; A47J51/097
Field of Search:
223/85,86,88,92,98,87
US Patent References:
Primary Examiner:
Krizmanich, George H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Weiner, Basile And Weintaub
Claims:
I claim
1. A garment hanger comprising, in combination:
2. A hanger structure substantially as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that:
3. A hanger structure substantially as set forth in claim 2, further characterized in that:
4. A garment hanger substantially as set forth in claim 1, further characterized by:
5. A garment hanger substantially as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that:
6. A hanger structure for use in conjunction with an insertable hanger member having a hook element and two hanger support bars, comprising in combination:
1. A garment hanger comprising, in combination:
2. A hanger structure substantially as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that:
3. A hanger structure substantially as set forth in claim 2, further characterized in that:
4. A garment hanger substantially as set forth in claim 1, further characterized by:
5. A garment hanger substantially as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that:
6. A hanger structure for use in conjunction with an insertable hanger member having a hook element and two hanger support bars, comprising in combination:
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field encompassing garment hangers, and to decorative and functional garment hanger sheaths.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior art hangers are usually narrow, thus promoting the creasing of a garment hanging therefrom in those areas of the garment in contact with the hanger. In addition, many prior art hangers are made entirely of metal which, in many cases, leaves a rust stain on garments, especially wet wash and wear clothes which are hung from hangers to dry. Prior art sheaths for hangers are usually made of light cardboard foamed plastic or wood, and cover only the shoulder support members, or only the horizontal bar of a hanger. Many of these sheaths or covers are flimsy in addition to being narrow. Thus, a garment hung from hangers incorporating these sheaths will develop creases in those areas in contact with the hanger. Also, because of their flimsiness, they break or fail, thus dropping the garment.
Some prior art hangers, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,059,824 issued in 1962 to Henry, are made of expanded polystyrene molded around a wire hanger, having the wire hanger embedded in the polystyrene. The wire hanger and expanded polystyrene form a unit, and either is damaged both must be discarded. None of the prior art hangers or hanger sheaths provide a readily removable and inexpensive sheath or cover which prevents creasing of garments hanging from them.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a garment hanger having an easily removable sheath, preferably of expanded plastic material, although it could be of other materials such as, for example, pressed paper, wood, or a thermoplastic synthetic resin. The sheath has a slot therein adapted to slideably receive a wire garment hanger such that only the hook member of the wire hanger protrudes from the sheath. The invention contemplates that only a hook member and shoulder support bars or segments thereof, of a wire garment hanger may be used as well as an entire wire hanger having a horizontal bar attached at its ends to the ends of the shoulder support bars opposite the hook. In an embodiment which utilizes a wire hanger having only a hook member and shoulder support bars, or segments thereof, the slot in the sheath need only extend through an apex of the sheath where the two shoulders support bars of the sheath join, so that the hook member protrudes through the apex of the sheath. In the embodiment which utilizes a wire hanger having a horizontal bar, the slot extends through the horizontal bar, shoulder support bars, and apex of the sheath where the two shoulder support bars join such that only the hook member protrudes from the sheath. A second slot may be provided in the sheath to hold an accessory garment such as a tie, or belt. In addition a pocket may be disposed in the sheath adapted to contain an insect repellant such as mothballs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a frontal plane view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a top view of the sheath used in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a frontal plane view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a top view of the sheath used in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a frontal plane view showing the preferred embodiment of the present invention with a wire garment hanger inserted therein.
FIG. 6 is a frontal plane view of the sheath of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a top view of the sheath shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the sheath shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 9 is a modified form of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a wire hanger generally denoted as 2 having a hook member or element 4, segments of shoulder support bars or supporting elements 6, 8, and a removable, unitary, non-foldable, rigid sheath generally denoted as 10, having major exterior parallel surfaces and including two shoulder support bars 16, 18, and a horizontal bar 19 integrally joined at its opposite ends to one end of each of the shoulder support bars 16, 18. A first slot 12, situated on the vertical center line of the sheath perpendicular to the two major exterior parallel surfaces 20, 22 of the sheath, is disposed at an apex 14 where the two shoulder support bars 16, 18 of the sheath 10 join. The apex 14 is located or situated substantially over the mid-point of the horizontal bar 19. This first slot 12 is adapted to receive a neck portion 24 of the wire hanger 2. The shoulder support bar segments 6, 8 of the wire hanger 2 abut the lower surfaces 26, 28 of the sheath's shoulder support bars 16, 18 and act as an underprop for the sheath.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown a wire hanger generally denoted as 30 having a hook portion 32 and shoulder support bars 34, 36, and a sheath generally denoted as 38 having two shoulder support bars 50, 52 and a horizontal bar 37 joined at its opposite ends to one end of each of the shoulder support bars 50, 52. A first slot generally denoted as 40 is disposed on the center line of the sheath substantially parallel to and intermediate with the two major surfaces 42, 44 of the sheath. This first slot 40 forms a longitudinal recess 46, 48 in each of the sheath's shoulder support bars 50, 52 and extends through the apex 54 where the two shoulder support bars 50, 52 of the sheath 38 join. This slot 40 is adapted to receive the hanger's shoulder support bars 34, 36 in the longitudinal recesses 46, 48, and the hook member 32 of the wire hanger through that part of the slot 40 extending through the apex 54 of the sheath 38. The hanger's shoulder support bars 34, 36 abut the sheath's shoulder support bars 50, 52 in the longitudinal recesses 46, 48 in the sheath's shoulder support bars, and act as an underprop for the sheath. The only part of the wire hanger 30 which extends beyond the boundaries of the sheath 38 is the hook member 32.
FIG. 5 shows a wire hanger generally denoted as 56 having a hook member 58, shoulder support bars 60, 62 and a horizontal bar 64. Shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 is a sheath 66 having two shoulder support bars 68, 70, and a horizontal bar 72 joined at its opposite ends to one end of each of the shoulder support bars 68, 70. A first slot generally denoted as 74 is disposed on the center line of the sheath parallel to the two major surfaces 76, 78 of the sheath. This slot 74 extends through the sheath's horizontal bar 72, along the longitudinal axis of the sheath's shoulder support bars 68, 70, forming longitudinal recesses 82, 84 therein, and extends through the apex 80 formed by the junction of the ends of the shoulder support bars opposite the ends affixed to the sheath's horizontal bar 72. This slot 74 is adapted to receive the hanger's horizontal bar 64, the hanger's shoulder support bars 60, 62 in the longitudinal recesses 82, 84 and the hook member 58 through the slot 74 extending through the apex 80 of the sheath. The hanger's shoulder support bars 60, 62 abut the sheath's shoulder support bars 68, 70 in the longitudinal recesses 82, 84 formed by the slot 74 in the sheath's shoulder support bars 68, 70 and act as an underprop for the sheath. The only portion of the wire hanger which extends beyond the boundaries of the sheath is the hook member 58.
With reference to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, there is shown the sheath 66 used with the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 5. The sheath 66 has a horizontal bar 72, two shoulder support bars 68, 70, and a slot generally denoted as 74 disposed substantially on the center line of the sheath 66 parallel to the two major surfaces 76, 78 of the sheath. This slot extends upwardly through the horizontal bar 72 along the longitudinal axis of the shoulder support bars 68, 70 and through the apex 80, and is adapted to slideably or insertingly receive a wire hanger 56 such that only the hook member 58 of the wire hanger extends through the slot in the apex 80 of the sheath. The slot 74 forms a longitudinal recess 82, 84 in each of the shoulder support bars 68, 70, each recess having base portions 86, 88 and two walls 90, 92 disposed on opposite sides of the base portion 86, 88.
In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, having a slit 12 on the center line of the sheath perpendicular to a major surface 20, 22 of the sheath, the hanger 2 may be inserted by merely inserting a neck portion 24 of the wire hanger into the slot 12 far enough so that the shoulder support bar segments 26, 28 engage the sheath's shoulder support bars 16, 18 substantially on their longitudinal center line, such that the hook member 4 protrudes from the apex 14 of the sheath.
In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, having a slot 40 substantially parallel to the two major surfaces 42, 44 of the sheath, the slot 40 is adapted to receive a wire garment hanger 30 inserted from the bottom edge of the shoulder support bars 50, 52, that is from the side opposite that from which the hook will protrude. In this embodiment, utilizing a hanger 30 with just the hook member 32 and shoulder support bars 34, 36, the hanger may be inserted in the slot 40 by placing it in the area of the sheath bounded by the sheath's horizontal bar 37 and shoulder support bars 50, 52, and displacing it generally upward until the hook member protrudes through the slot 40 in the apex 54 and the hanger shoulder support bars 34, 36 engage the sheath's shoulder support bars.
In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 5 utilizing a hanger having a horizontal bar 64 as well as shoulder support bars 68, 70, the hanger may be inserted from a bottom side of the sheath's horizontal bar 72, that is the side thereof most remote from the apex 80, and displaced generally upwardly until the hook member 58 protrudes through the slot 74 in the apex or neck 80 and the hanger shoulder support bars 60, 62 engage the sheath's shoulder support bars 68, 70 in the recesses 82, 84, such that the supporting elements of the wire hanger are juxtaposed to the base portions and bear thereagainst the hook member 58 being the only part of the wire hanger 56 which extends beyond the boundaries of the sheath 66.
It is to be noted that upon insertion of the hanger the support elements thereof engage the support bars of the sheath and carry the entire weight of the sheath.
FIG. 9 shows two modifications which may be incorporated in any of the above-described embodiments. A second slot 94 is located in the sheath substantially perpendicular to the major surfaces of the sheath. This second slot 94 is adapted to enable the insertion therethrough of an accessory garment, such as a tie or belt. Also shown is a pocket 96 located in one of the major surfaces of the sheath and adapted to house an insect repellant, such as mothballs.
The apex, shoulder support bars, and horizontal bars of the sheath may be of substantial thickness, or several inches, and contoured to maintain the shape of the garments hanging therefrom.
Various other modifications will occur to those skilled in the art within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field encompassing garment hangers, and to decorative and functional garment hanger sheaths.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior art hangers are usually narrow, thus promoting the creasing of a garment hanging therefrom in those areas of the garment in contact with the hanger. In addition, many prior art hangers are made entirely of metal which, in many cases, leaves a rust stain on garments, especially wet wash and wear clothes which are hung from hangers to dry. Prior art sheaths for hangers are usually made of light cardboard foamed plastic or wood, and cover only the shoulder support members, or only the horizontal bar of a hanger. Many of these sheaths or covers are flimsy in addition to being narrow. Thus, a garment hung from hangers incorporating these sheaths will develop creases in those areas in contact with the hanger. Also, because of their flimsiness, they break or fail, thus dropping the garment.
Some prior art hangers, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,059,824 issued in 1962 to Henry, are made of expanded polystyrene molded around a wire hanger, having the wire hanger embedded in the polystyrene. The wire hanger and expanded polystyrene form a unit, and either is damaged both must be discarded. None of the prior art hangers or hanger sheaths provide a readily removable and inexpensive sheath or cover which prevents creasing of garments hanging from them.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a garment hanger having an easily removable sheath, preferably of expanded plastic material, although it could be of other materials such as, for example, pressed paper, wood, or a thermoplastic synthetic resin. The sheath has a slot therein adapted to slideably receive a wire garment hanger such that only the hook member of the wire hanger protrudes from the sheath. The invention contemplates that only a hook member and shoulder support bars or segments thereof, of a wire garment hanger may be used as well as an entire wire hanger having a horizontal bar attached at its ends to the ends of the shoulder support bars opposite the hook. In an embodiment which utilizes a wire hanger having only a hook member and shoulder support bars, or segments thereof, the slot in the sheath need only extend through an apex of the sheath where the two shoulders support bars of the sheath join, so that the hook member protrudes through the apex of the sheath. In the embodiment which utilizes a wire hanger having a horizontal bar, the slot extends through the horizontal bar, shoulder support bars, and apex of the sheath where the two shoulder support bars join such that only the hook member protrudes from the sheath. A second slot may be provided in the sheath to hold an accessory garment such as a tie, or belt. In addition a pocket may be disposed in the sheath adapted to contain an insect repellant such as mothballs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a frontal plane view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a top view of the sheath used in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a frontal plane view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a top view of the sheath used in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a frontal plane view showing the preferred embodiment of the present invention with a wire garment hanger inserted therein.
FIG. 6 is a frontal plane view of the sheath of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a top view of the sheath shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the sheath shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 9 is a modified form of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a wire hanger generally denoted as 2 having a hook member or element 4, segments of shoulder support bars or supporting elements 6, 8, and a removable, unitary, non-foldable, rigid sheath generally denoted as 10, having major exterior parallel surfaces and including two shoulder support bars 16, 18, and a horizontal bar 19 integrally joined at its opposite ends to one end of each of the shoulder support bars 16, 18. A first slot 12, situated on the vertical center line of the sheath perpendicular to the two major exterior parallel surfaces 20, 22 of the sheath, is disposed at an apex 14 where the two shoulder support bars 16, 18 of the sheath 10 join. The apex 14 is located or situated substantially over the mid-point of the horizontal bar 19. This first slot 12 is adapted to receive a neck portion 24 of the wire hanger 2. The shoulder support bar segments 6, 8 of the wire hanger 2 abut the lower surfaces 26, 28 of the sheath's shoulder support bars 16, 18 and act as an underprop for the sheath.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown a wire hanger generally denoted as 30 having a hook portion 32 and shoulder support bars 34, 36, and a sheath generally denoted as 38 having two shoulder support bars 50, 52 and a horizontal bar 37 joined at its opposite ends to one end of each of the shoulder support bars 50, 52. A first slot generally denoted as 40 is disposed on the center line of the sheath substantially parallel to and intermediate with the two major surfaces 42, 44 of the sheath. This first slot 40 forms a longitudinal recess 46, 48 in each of the sheath's shoulder support bars 50, 52 and extends through the apex 54 where the two shoulder support bars 50, 52 of the sheath 38 join. This slot 40 is adapted to receive the hanger's shoulder support bars 34, 36 in the longitudinal recesses 46, 48, and the hook member 32 of the wire hanger through that part of the slot 40 extending through the apex 54 of the sheath 38. The hanger's shoulder support bars 34, 36 abut the sheath's shoulder support bars 50, 52 in the longitudinal recesses 46, 48 in the sheath's shoulder support bars, and act as an underprop for the sheath. The only part of the wire hanger 30 which extends beyond the boundaries of the sheath 38 is the hook member 32.
FIG. 5 shows a wire hanger generally denoted as 56 having a hook member 58, shoulder support bars 60, 62 and a horizontal bar 64. Shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 is a sheath 66 having two shoulder support bars 68, 70, and a horizontal bar 72 joined at its opposite ends to one end of each of the shoulder support bars 68, 70. A first slot generally denoted as 74 is disposed on the center line of the sheath parallel to the two major surfaces 76, 78 of the sheath. This slot 74 extends through the sheath's horizontal bar 72, along the longitudinal axis of the sheath's shoulder support bars 68, 70, forming longitudinal recesses 82, 84 therein, and extends through the apex 80 formed by the junction of the ends of the shoulder support bars opposite the ends affixed to the sheath's horizontal bar 72. This slot 74 is adapted to receive the hanger's horizontal bar 64, the hanger's shoulder support bars 60, 62 in the longitudinal recesses 82, 84 and the hook member 58 through the slot 74 extending through the apex 80 of the sheath. The hanger's shoulder support bars 60, 62 abut the sheath's shoulder support bars 68, 70 in the longitudinal recesses 82, 84 formed by the slot 74 in the sheath's shoulder support bars 68, 70 and act as an underprop for the sheath. The only portion of the wire hanger which extends beyond the boundaries of the sheath is the hook member 58.
With reference to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, there is shown the sheath 66 used with the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 5. The sheath 66 has a horizontal bar 72, two shoulder support bars 68, 70, and a slot generally denoted as 74 disposed substantially on the center line of the sheath 66 parallel to the two major surfaces 76, 78 of the sheath. This slot extends upwardly through the horizontal bar 72 along the longitudinal axis of the shoulder support bars 68, 70 and through the apex 80, and is adapted to slideably or insertingly receive a wire hanger 56 such that only the hook member 58 of the wire hanger extends through the slot in the apex 80 of the sheath. The slot 74 forms a longitudinal recess 82, 84 in each of the shoulder support bars 68, 70, each recess having base portions 86, 88 and two walls 90, 92 disposed on opposite sides of the base portion 86, 88.
In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, having a slit 12 on the center line of the sheath perpendicular to a major surface 20, 22 of the sheath, the hanger 2 may be inserted by merely inserting a neck portion 24 of the wire hanger into the slot 12 far enough so that the shoulder support bar segments 26, 28 engage the sheath's shoulder support bars 16, 18 substantially on their longitudinal center line, such that the hook member 4 protrudes from the apex 14 of the sheath.
In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, having a slot 40 substantially parallel to the two major surfaces 42, 44 of the sheath, the slot 40 is adapted to receive a wire garment hanger 30 inserted from the bottom edge of the shoulder support bars 50, 52, that is from the side opposite that from which the hook will protrude. In this embodiment, utilizing a hanger 30 with just the hook member 32 and shoulder support bars 34, 36, the hanger may be inserted in the slot 40 by placing it in the area of the sheath bounded by the sheath's horizontal bar 37 and shoulder support bars 50, 52, and displacing it generally upward until the hook member protrudes through the slot 40 in the apex 54 and the hanger shoulder support bars 34, 36 engage the sheath's shoulder support bars.
In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 5 utilizing a hanger having a horizontal bar 64 as well as shoulder support bars 68, 70, the hanger may be inserted from a bottom side of the sheath's horizontal bar 72, that is the side thereof most remote from the apex 80, and displaced generally upwardly until the hook member 58 protrudes through the slot 74 in the apex or neck 80 and the hanger shoulder support bars 60, 62 engage the sheath's shoulder support bars 68, 70 in the recesses 82, 84, such that the supporting elements of the wire hanger are juxtaposed to the base portions and bear thereagainst the hook member 58 being the only part of the wire hanger 56 which extends beyond the boundaries of the sheath 66.
It is to be noted that upon insertion of the hanger the support elements thereof engage the support bars of the sheath and carry the entire weight of the sheath.
FIG. 9 shows two modifications which may be incorporated in any of the above-described embodiments. A second slot 94 is located in the sheath substantially perpendicular to the major surfaces of the sheath. This second slot 94 is adapted to enable the insertion therethrough of an accessory garment, such as a tie or belt. Also shown is a pocket 96 located in one of the major surfaces of the sheath and adapted to house an insect repellant, such as mothballs.
The apex, shoulder support bars, and horizontal bars of the sheath may be of substantial thickness, or several inches, and contoured to maintain the shape of the garments hanging therefrom.
Various other modifications will occur to those skilled in the art within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.