BACKGROU N D

[OOOl] The present invention relates to the field of garment hangers.

SUMMARY

[0002] According to various embodiments of the invention, a hanger is provided which supports long garments securely and easily in half or less length than the garment would occupy hanging on a conventional hanger.

[0003] According to an embodiment of the invention, a garment hanger comprises: a primary support including a hook and elements arranged to suspend a top portion of a garment; an auxiliary support including a bar for suspending the bottom portion of the garment, shortening a total length of the garment thus supported; and the primary support and the auxiliary support including cooperative, non-locking elements detachably suspending the auxiliary support from the primary support with the bar close to the primary support. In one variation, a magnet is provided in one of the primary support and the auxiliary support and a material to which the magnet is attracted is provided in the other of the primary support and the auxiliary support. In another variation, an auxiliary hook extends from the auxiliary support so as to hang over an upper edge of the primary support, for example to each side of or around the hook of the primary support. In yet another variation, the cooperative, non-locking elements include patches of hook-and-loop fastener on the auxiliary support and the primary support. The primary support may include arms extending from the hanger body to provide support to shoulders or shoulder straps of the garment. In some variations, the primary support includes clips extending from the hanger body to provide support to the garment. In other variations, the auxiliary support may include clips extending from the bar to provide support to the bottom portion of the garment. In yet other variations, the bar includes a clip having jaws running substantially the length of the bar providing support to and securing the bottom portion of the garment, as shown and described, or implied by those variations with one or more clips disposed on the primary support.

[0004] The individual elements of the foregoing variations may be combined in any suitable way to produce other variations of embodiments of the invention.

DESCRI PTION OFTH E DRAWI NGS

[0005] In the following description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown example implementations. It should be understood that other implementations are possible, and that these example implementations are intended to be merely illustrative.

[0006] Fig. lA is an axonometric view of a first embodiment of the hanger, assembled.

[0007] Fig. iB is an axonometric view of the first embodiment, disassembled.

[0008] Fig. iC is a plan view of the first embodiment, assembled.

[0009] Fig. iD is a front view of the first embodiment, assembled.

[OOIO] Fig. lE is a back view of the first embodiment, assembled.

[0011] Fig. iF is a plan view of the first embodiment, primary support.

[0012] Fig. iG is a front view of the first embodiment, primary support.

[0013] Fig. iH is a back view of the first embodiment, primary support.

[0014] Fig. il is a right view of the first embodiment, primary support.

[0015] Fig. ij is a left view of the first embodiment, primary support.

[0016] Fig. iK is a plan view of the first embodiment, auxiliary support.

[0017] Fig. iL is a front view of the first embodiment, auxiliary support.

[0018] Fig. iM is a back view of the first embodiment, auxiliary support.

[0019] Fig. iN is a right view of the first embodiment, auxiliary support.

[0020] Fig. lO is a left view of the first embodiment, auxiliary support. [0021] Fig. 2A is an axonometric view of a second embodiment of the hanger, assembled.

[0022] Fig. 2B is an axonometric view of the second embodiment, disassembled.

[0023] Fig. 2C is a plan view of the second embodiment, assembled.

[0024] Fig. 2D is a front view of the second embodiment, assembled.

[0025] Fig. 2E is a back view of the second embodiment, assembled.

[0026] Fig. 2F is a plan view of the second embodiment, primary support.

[0027] Fig. 2G is a front view of the second embodiment, primary support.

[0028] Fig. 2H is a back view of the second embodiment, primary support.

[0029] Fig. 2I is a right view of the second embodiment, primary support.

[0030] Fig. 2j is a left view of the second embodiment, primary support.

[0031] Fig. 2K is a plan view of the second embodiment, auxiliary support.

[0032] Fig. 2L is a front view of the second embodiment, auxiliary support.

[0033] Fig. 2M is a back view of the second embodiment, auxiliary support.

[0034] Fig. 2N is a right view of the second embodiment, auxiliary support.

[0035] Fig. 2O is a left view of the second embodiment, auxiliary support.

[0036] Fig. 3A is an axonometric view of a third embodiment of the hanger, assembled.

[0037] Fig. 3B is an axonometric view of the third embodiment, disassembled.

[0038] Fig. 3C is a plan view of the third embodiment, assembled.

[0039] Fig. 3D is a front view of the third embodiment, assembled.

[0040] Fig. 3E is a back view of the third embodiment, assembled.

[0041] Fig. 3F is a plan view of the third embodiment, primary support.

[0042] Fig. 3G is a front view of the third embodiment, primary support.

[0043] Fig. 3H is a back view of the third embodiment, primary support.

[0044] Fig. 3I is a right view of the third embodiment, primary support.

[0045] Fig. 3j is a left view of the third embodiment, primary support.

[0046] Fig. 3 is a plan view of the third embodiment, auxiliary support. [0047] Fig. 3L is a front view of the third embodiment, auxiliary support.

[0048] Fig. 3M is a back view of the third embodiment, auxiliary support.

[0049] Fig. 3 is a right view of the third embodiment, auxiliary support.

[0050] Fig. 3O is a left view of the third embodiment, auxiliary support.

[0051] Fig. 4A is an axonometric view of a fourth embodiment of the hanger, assembled.

[0052] Fig. 4B is an axonometric view of the fourth embodiment, disassembled.

[0053] Fig. 4C is a plan view of the fourth embodiment, assembled.

[0054] Fig. 4D is a front view of the fourth embodiment, assembled.

[0055] Fig. 4E is a back view of the fourth embodiment, assembled.

[0056] Fig. 4F is a plan view of the fourth embodiment, primary support.

[0057] Fig. 4G is a front view of the fourth embodiment, primary support.

[0058] Fig. 4H is a back view of the fourth embodiment, primary support.

[0059] Fig. 4I is a right view of the fourth embodiment, primary support.

[0060] Fig. 4j is a left view of the fourth embodiment, primary support.

[0061] Fig. 4 is a plan view of the fourth embodiment, auxiliary support.

[0062] Fig. 4L is a front view of the fourth embodiment, auxiliary support.

[0063] Fig. 4M is a back view of the fourth embodiment, auxiliary support.

[0064] Fig. 4N is a right view of the fourth embodiment, auxiliary support.

[0065] Fig. 4O is a left view of the fourth embodiment, auxiliary support.

[0066] Fig. 5A is an axonometric view of a fourth embodiment of the hanger, assembled.

[0067] Fig. 5B is an axonometric view of the fourth embodiment, disassembled.

[0068] Fig. 5C is a plan view of the fourth embodiment, assembled.

[0069] Fig. 5D is a front view of the fourth embodiment, assembled.

[0070] Fig. 5E is a back view of the fourth embodiment, assembled.

[0071] Fig. 5F is a plan view of the fourth embodiment, primary support.

[0072] Fig. 5G is a front view of the fourth embodiment, primary support. [0073] Fig. 5H is a back view of the fourth embodiment, primary support.

[0074] Fig. 51 is a right view of the fourth embodiment, primary support.

[0075] Fig. 5j is a left view of the fourth embodiment, primary support.

[0076] Fig. 5 is a plan view of the fourth embodiment, auxiliary support.

[0077] Fig. 5L is a front view of the fourth embodiment, auxiliary support.

[0078] Fig. 5M is a back view of the fourth embodiment, auxiliary support.

[0079] Fig. 5N is a right view of the fourth embodiment, auxiliary support.

[0080] Fig. 50 is a left view of the fourth embodiment, auxiliary support.

[0081] Figs. 6 - 8 are perspective views showing the hanger in various states of assembly during use hanging a garment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0082] The following section illustrates by several specific examples, various aspects and embodiments of the invention.

[0083] Referring to Fig. lA, a hanger loo is shown having a primary support no for supporting a garment at its shoulders, shoulder straps, or other topmost portion; and an auxiliary support 130 for supporting a garment at its hems, cuffs, or other lowermost portion. The auxiliary support 130 and the primary support 110 incorporate elements that detachably connect the auxiliary support 130 and the primary support 110. The connecting elements may, for example, be a pair of magnets, a magnet and a piece of steel, or hook and loop tape. The connecting elements of this embodiment are held in recesses in primary support 110 and auxiliary support 130 as described below.

[0084] Fig. lA shows the hanger 100 assembled in the configuration for storing a garment; Fig. iB shows the hanger 100 separated into the primary support 110 and the auxiliary support 130. When separated, the shoulder area of a garment is easily placed over arms 113A and 113B of the primary support 110 as it would be on a conventional hanger. But, the lower portion of a long garment, such as a long skirt or dress, can be draped over the bar 131 of auxiliary support 130. [0085] The hanger loo of these embodiments of the invention may be formed of any suitable material. For example, it may be molded of a reinforced or unreinforced plastic, for example polypropylene or glass reinforced nylon; or the hanger 100 may be 3-D printed of any suitable 3-D printing matrix material of suitable strength and durability. The resulting hanger should have a thin profile, as shown in the views of Figs. iC, iD, and lE.

[0086] Figs. iF, iG, iH, il, and ij show further details of the primary support no. The primary support no includes a hook ill with a shank 112 for suspending the hanger 100, for example from a hanger bar in a closet. Arms 113A and 113B as previously described are constructed and arranged to support the top of a garment, for example by shoulders of the garment or straps.

[0087] The primary support no and the auxiliary support 130 have interlocking stepped shapes (Fig. iG, 113; Fig. iM, 133) forming a recess and key arrangement that help a user to align the supports 110 and 130 and also help prevent sheer forces from separating the supports 110 and 130 when a heavy garment might present unusually high sheer forces to them. This is explained further, below. The interlocking stepped shapes may correspond to the housing spaces (Fig. iH, 115; Fig. iL, 132) defined to hold magnet and/or steel elements used to separably retain supports 110 and 130 together, or may be pins or other shapes in overlapped portions of the primary support 110 and the auxiliary support 130.

[0088] Primary support no and the auxiliary support 130 include in recesses 115 and 132 an embedded or otherwise permanently affixed magnet and steel which attract each other with sufficient force to hold the primary support 110 and the auxiliary support 130 together when assembled, but which permit a user to separate easily by manually pulling them away from each other. In alternatives, the magnet and the steel may be swapped in location, two magnets may be held in recesses 115 and 132, or multiple combinations of magnets and/or steel elements may be placed in the same or other suitable locations. Proper alignment and resistance to sheer forces may be achieved by the strength and alignment of magnets encouraging proper natural alignment, or as next described, by the recess and key arrangement mentioned above.

[0089] Recess 114 is provided to help align with a matching key (Fig. iL, 133), while a second recess 115 opposite to recess 114 on primary support 110 is provided to receive a magnet or metal element to provide an attractive force between primary support 110 and auxiliary support 130. Of course, in alternative embodiments, recess 114 may hold in its interior one of hook tape or loop tape, with the other held on the key (Fig. iL, 133) to hold the primary support 110 and the auxiliary support 130 together. Suitable hook and loop tapes include Velcro ^® hook and loop tapes (a brand of hook and loop fastener tapes available from Velcro Companies, Manchester, NH) and other similar fasteners. Similar fasteners include, but are not limited to, variants such as mushroom tapes and other heavy duty alternatives such as Dual Lock ^® (a brand of fastener tape available from 3M Corporation) and Duotec ^® (a brand of fastener tape available from Gottlieb Binder GmbH & Co. KG).

[0090] Figs. iK, iL, iM, iN, and lO show further details of the auxiliary support 130. The auxiliary support 130 further includes the bar 131 for supporting the lower portion of a long garment, a recess 132 for holding the mating element to the magnet or metal held in recess 115 of the primary support 110, and a key 133 extending out of the surface of auxiliary support 130 to help align the auxiliary support 130 with primary support 110 by fitting in recess 114 of primary support 110. The bar 131 may have a diameter, covering and/or surface quality suitable for retaining the type of garment for which the hanger is to be used.

[0091] Embodiments of the invention with a different means of attaching an auxiliary support 230 to a primary support 210 are illustrated in Figs. 2A - 2O.

[0092] Referring to Fig. 2A, a hanger 200 is shown having a primary support 210 for supporting a garment at its shoulders, shoulder straps, or other topmost portion; and an auxiliary support 230 for supporting a garment at its hems, cuffs, or other lowermost portion. The auxiliary support 230 includes hooks 233A and 233B that hook over the shoulders 214A and 214B of the arms 213A and 213B of primary support 210 {see, Figs. 2F - 2O), as explained further, below.

[0093] Fig. 2A shows the hanger 200 assembled in the configuration for storing a garment; Fig. 2B shows the hanger 200 separated into the primary support 210 and the auxiliary support 230. In this embodiment, the auxiliary support 230 simply unhooks from the primary support 210.

[0094] The hanger 200 of these embodiments of the invention may also be formed of any suitable material.

[0095] Figs. 2F, 2G, 2H, 2I, and 2J show further details of the primary support 210. The primary support 210 includes a hook 211 with a shank 212 for suspending the hanger 200 from a hanger bar in a closet. Arms 214A and 214B extend out to support a garment from shoulders or straps. Arms 214A and 214B have shoulders 213A and 213B,

respectively, to support hooks extending from auxiliary support 230 as explained below.

[0096] Figs. 2K, 2L, 2M, 2N, and 2O show further details of the auxiliary support 230. The auxiliary support 230 includes the bar 231 for supporting the lower portion of a long garment. The auxiliary support 230 further has hooks 233A and 233B supported from a shank 232 positioning hooks 233A and 233B to hang auxiliary support 230 from primary support 210. The bar 131 may have a diameter, covering and/or surface quality suitable for retaining the type of garment for which the hanger is to be used.

[0097] Embodiments of the invention with a clip bar 320 and clips 340 for garments such as long skirts or that include such pieces that do not have elements suitable for hanging from arms 312 of primary support 310 are illustrated in Figs. 3A- 3O.

[0098] Referring to Fig. 3A, a hanger 300 is shown having a primary support 310 for supporting a garment at its shoulders, shoulder straps, or other topmost portion, but add a clip bar 320 and clips 340 to support a skirt or similar garment, for example at its waist; and an auxiliary support 330 for supporting a garment at its hems, cuffs, or other lowermost portion. AS shown in Figs. 3A- 3O, this embodiment is otherwise similar to that described and shown in connection with Figs. lA - lO. The clip bar 320 may be fastened into the primary support 310 by any suitable means. For example, the primary support 310 may be molded around ends of clip bar 320, or the clip bar 320 may have ends otherwise embedded in the primary support 310, adhered to the primary support, or fastened to the primary support.

[0099] Figs. 4A - 4O illustrate how elements of the embodiment of Figs. 2A - 2O are combinable with elements of the embodiments of Figs. 3A - 3O.

[OOIOO] Referring to Fig. 4A, a hanger 400 is shown having a primary support 310 for supporting a garment at its shoulders, shoulder straps, or other topmost portion; and an auxiliary support 230 for supporting a garment at its hems, cuffs, or other lowermost portion. This embodiment combines the auxiliary support structure having hooks 233A and 233B supported from a shank 232 illustrated by the embodiment shown in Figs. 2A - 2O with the primary support structure having a clip bar 320 and clips 340 illustrated by the embodiment shown in Figs. 3A - 3O. The attachment and detachment of the primary support 310 and the auxiliary support 230 is as described in connection with Figs. 2A - 2O, while the support of the garment is as described in connection with Figs. 3A - 3O. [OOlOl] Figs. 5A - 5O illustrate how embodiments of the invention can be realized using tubular or rod-shaped elements to form features of hanger 500.

[OOIO2] Referring to Fig. 5A, a hanger 500 is shown having a primary support 510 for supporting a garment at its shoulders, shoulder straps, or other topmost portion; and an auxiliary support 530 for supporting a garment at its hems, cuffs, or other lowermost portion. Construction of this embodiment is similar to that of conventional hangers made of polyethylene tube or rod material with skirt clips, but including in the configuration the specific elements of the invention illustrated and described previously in connection with Figs. 4A - 4O.

[00103] This embodiment combines the auxiliary support structure having hooks 533A and 533B supported from a shank 532 as also illustrated by the embodiment shown in Figs. 2A - 2O with the primary support structure having a clip bar 520 and clips 540 as also illustrated by the embodiment shown in Figs. 3A - 3O. The attachment and detachment of the primary support 510 and the auxiliary support 530 is as described in connection with Figs. 2A - 2O, while the support of the garment is as described in connection with Figs. 3A - 3O.

[00104] Variations of this embodiment include, but are not limited to, versions produced without clips 540, e.g. for dresses and skirts, versions produced with clips on the bar of auxiliary support 530, and other variations and combinations disclosed and described herein in connection with different structural variations. Other variations of this embodiment also include the use of any other suitable polymer or other material to form the structure illustrated generally in Figs. 5A - 5O.

[00105] Figs. 6 - 8 show by steps, how to use the invention, using the hanger 300 of Figs 3A - 3O.

[00106] In Fig. 6, the hanger 300 has been separated into the primary support 310 and the auxiliary support 330 (not shown). The primary support 310 is employed in a fashion similar to a conventional hanger. Once the parts are separated, the primary support 310 resembles a conventional hanger. A garment is hung on arms 313A and 313B of the primary support 310, in a conventional manner. The arms 313A and 313B of the primary support 310 in the exemplary embodiment shown includes clips for retaining garments that do not drape over arms 313A and 313B more securely.

[00107] In Fig. 7, the lower end of the garment is draped over a bar 331 of the auxiliary support 330. The bar 331 of the exemplary embodiment does not include hooks, detents, one or more clips, or other means to retain the lower end of the garment, but could include such features. As next shown, Fig. 8 illustrates the hanger 300 reassembled so that primary support 310 and auxiliary support 330 cooperate to support the garment in a new way.