Field of the Invention

[001] The present invention relates to coat hanger.

Background to the Invention

[002] When removing an item of clothing such as a shirt from a coat hanger, the coat hanger can either be removed out of the neck or slid downwardly to be removed through the bottom of the shirt. Removing the coat hanger through the neck is generally quicker and easier but can result in stretching of the neck.

[003] The present invention relates to a coat hanger which can be easily removed through the neck of a garment without stretching the neck. The coat hanger is aimed to be of a simple and effective construction which is easy to manufacture and to use.

Summary of the Invention

[004] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a coat hanger comprising: a first side member including a planar first base and a first arm extending outwardly from the first base; a second side member including a second base and a second arm extending outwardly from the second base, the second base comprising planar first and second side walls between which the first base is received and the second base being pivotally connected to the first base such that the first and second members may be moved between an extended position, in which the first and second arms extend away from each other such that a garment may be supported on the first and second arms, and a folded position, in which the first and second arms are rotated towards each other; a hook extending outwardly from either the first base or the second base; and an arm member formed by a slot provided in the first base, the arm member having a lug extending outwardly from an edge thereof; wherein an aperture extends outwardly between edges of the first and second side walls such that when the first and second members are in the extended position, the lug engages with an edge of the aperture to restrict movement of the first and second members toward the folded position.

[005] Preferably the first and second side walls include recessed portions in edges thereof adjacent the aperture to provide access to the arm member such that the arm member may be depressed to pivot the arm member and allow disengagement of the lug from the edge of the aperture.

[006] Preferably the lug includes an arcuate outer edge and a shoulder portion at a trailing end of the arcuate outer edge such that the shoulder portion engages with the edge of the aperture to restrict relative movement of the first and second side members when in the extended position.

[007] Preferably the lug is provided adjacent an upper end of the second base and the aperture is adjacent a proximal end of the hook.

[008] Preferably the hook extends outwardly from an upper end of the first base and the first and second side walls include aligned holes adjacent a lower end thereof for receiving pins on opposite sides of the second base adjacent a lower side thereof.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[009] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[010] Figure 1 is a front view of a coat hanger in accordance with the present invention; [011] Figure 2 is an exploded view of the coat hanger of Figure 1 ;

[012] Figure 3 is a view of the coat hanger of Figure 1 in a folded position;

[013] Figure 4 is a front view of the coat hanger of Figure 1 in use supporting a shirt; and

[014] Figure 5 is a front view showing the coat hanger moved to the folded position to allow it to be removed through the neck of the shirt.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

[015] Referring to the Figures, there is shown a coat hanger 10 comprising a first side member 12, a second side member 14 and a hook 20. The first and second side members 12 and 14 are provided for supporting a garment such as a shirt 11 in a known manner. The coat hanger 10 and supported garment may be hung from a suitable location, such as within a wardrobe, by the hook 20.

[016] The first side member 12 comprises generally a first base 16 and a first arm 18. The first base 16 and the first arm 18 are generally planar and integrally formed from a suitable material, such as a plastic material. The second side member 14 comprises a second base 26 and a second arm 28. The second base 26 and the second arm 28 are also generally planar and integrally formed from a suitable material, such as a plastic material.

[017] The first and second side members 12 and 14 are pivotally connected to each other. The first and second side members 12 and 14 are pivotable between an extended position (as shown in Figure 1) and a folded position (as shown in Figure 3). In the extended position, the first and second arms 18 and 28 extend generally away from each other such that the coat hanger 10 can support a garment in a known manner. In the folded position, the first and second arms 18 and 28 rotate generally towards each other. In the embodiment shown, the first and second arms 18 and 28 are located adjacent each other in the folded position. [018] In the embodiment shown, the first base 16 comprises first and second side walls 22 and 23. The first and second side wall 22 and 23 are parallel and adjacent each other such that a generally planar cavity is defined between the first and second side walls 22 and 23. The second base 26 comprises a planar member receivable within the cavity between the first and second side walls 22 and 23. The first and second side walls 22 and 23 define an opening on a first side of the first base 16, being a side opposite the first arm 18 such that the second base 16 is received within the opening in the first side of the first base 16.

[019] The hook 20 extends outwardly from the first base 16 on an upper end thereof. The first and second side walls 22 and 23 of the first base 16 include aligned holes 30 adjacent lower ends thereof, being ends opposite the hook 20. The second base 26 includes pins 32 extending outwardly from opposed sides thereof. The pins 32 are located adjacent a lower end of the second base 26 and are received within the holes 30 when the second base 26 is received between the first and second side walls 22 and 23 of the first base 16.

[020] The pins 32 are retained within the holes 30 such that the second side member 14 is rotatable relative to the first side member 12 between the extended and the folded positions. When rotating from the extended position to the folded position, the upper end of the second base 26 rotates outwardly away from the cavity between the first and second side walls 22 and 23 as can be seen in Figure 3.

[021] The second base 26 includes a lug 34 which is engageable with an aperture 36 in the first base 16 when the first and second side members 12 and 14 are in the extended position. The lug 34 engages with the aperture 36 in order to restrict movement of the first and second side members 12 and 14 from the extended position towards the folded position. The first and second side members 12 and 14 may be moved from the extended position to the folded position by disengaging the lug 34 from the aperture 36.

[022] The lug 34 extends outwardly from an edge of the second base 26 in the embodiment shown. The lug 34 is located adjacent an upper end of the second base 26. The aperture 36 is provided adjacent the upper end of the first base 16 such that the lug 34 engages into the aperture 36 in a snap-fit manner when the first and second side members 12 and 14 move to the extended position.

[023] In the embodiment shown, the aperture 36 extends outwardly from the cavity between edges the first and second side walls 22 and 23 adjacent a proximal end of the hook 20. The first and second side walls 22 and 23 include also recessed portions 46 adjacent the aperture 36.

[024] The lug 34 is provided on a flexible arm member 38 provided on the second base 26. A slot 40 is provided extending into an upper end of the second base 26 to define the arm member 38. The arm member 38 is therefore flexible and resilient relative to the second base 26. The flexing of the arm member 38 relative to the second base 26 allows the lug 34 to slide over the edge of the aperture 36 and snap into engagement with the edge of the aperture 36 when the first and second side members 12 and 14 are in the extended position.

[025] The lug 34 in the embodiment shown includes an arcuate outer edge 42 and a shoulder portion 44 at a trailing end of the arcuate outer edge 42 such that the shoulder portion 44 engages with an edge of the aperture 36 to restrict relative movement of the first and second side members 12 and 14 when in the extended position.

[026] In use, the coat hanger 10 may be used in a known manner when the first and second side members 12 and 14 are in the extended position for receiving a garment such as a shirt 11 (as shown in Figures 4 and 5). When the shirt 11 is to be removed from the coat hanger 10, the lug 34 may be disengaged from the aperture 36 by pressing on the lug 34, thereby flexing the arm member 38 and disengaging the shoulder portion 44 from the edge of the aperture 36. The first and second side members 12 and 14 therefore will rotate towards the folded position (as shown in Figure 5) in which the coat hanger 10 can be easily slid outwardly through the neck opening of the shirt 11. [027] It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.