The Hanging Tool

The present invention generally relates to hangers, and more particularly, to a garments hanger that can hang multiple types of garments.

Traditional clothes hangers lack versatility, limiting users to hanging particular garment types individually. They often lead to clutter in closets, requiring multiple hangers for different garments like sleeveless tops, pants, and brassieres. This invention provides an alternative versatile hanger solution that can accommodate various garment types at once, while making it easier for users to use the hanger.

The present invention is directed to a garments hanger for hanging multiple types of garments. The hanger, according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises at least one upper hook, two diagonal side legs of different longitudinal lengths and a horizontal bottom leg defining two or more notches. At one end, the upper hook converges with the longer diagonal side leg forming one continuous body. At the other end, the longer side leg converges with one end of the bottom horizontal leg furthering the continuous body while forming a vertex. The bottom horizontal leg includes at least two notches at or near its extremities to support and secure brassieres and thin-strapped garments. The bottom horizontal leg converges with the shorter side leg at its other end furthering the continuous body while forming a second vertex. The hangerbody surrounding the two vertices has an increased transversal width compared to that of the side and bottom legs, providing the hangerwith enhanced durability at higher stress points.

The body of the hangerincludes a discontinuity defined by an angularly oriented neck defined by the second diagonal side leg on the end not connected to the horizontal bottom leg. The discontinuity allows for easier insertion of the hanger into a narrow-collared shirt or similar garment, and the suspension of sleeveless tops, pants, or similar garments. The discontinuity additionally may provide easier insertion for users who may experience difficulty placing a narrow-collared shirt or similar garment or a suspension of sleeveless tops, pants, or similar garments onto a traditional hanger or removing those garments off of a traditional hanger.

The inventive hanger may be formed using any suitable material. The hook, side legs, and bottom leg may either be converged with one another using means for molding, adhesion, or the like; or be formed as a singular piece using molding techniques such as blow or injection molding, laser cutting, 3-D printing, or the like to form one continuous body. The notches in the horizontal bottom legs may be formed to be substantially rectangular in shape, circular, triangular, or in any other shape such as slots or grooves. The notches are sized to support and secure a strap-like garment within the notches. The notches may be formed in the horizontal bottom leg, engraved, cut, or the like.

The discontinuity in the body of the hanger is formed by having one diagonal side leg shorter than the other. However, the discontinuity may be created by other means such as tilting the outer end of one side leg, twisting it, or the like. The discontinuity must be of substantial opening to allow for easier insertion of the hanger into a narrow-collared shirt or similar garment, and the suspension of sleeveless tops, pants, or similar garments. For example, the discontinuity may be sized to permit the hanger to be inserted into the upper opening of a fully buttoned shirt or blouse.

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.

Referring to,shows a hangeraccording to an embodiment of the present invention. Hangermay 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. Hangermay be used to hang single and multiple articles of various garment types at once. Hangermay 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.

Referring to,shows one embodiment of the hangerThe hangerincludes least one hookThe hangerfurther includes a first diagonal side legand a second diagonal side leg, each side leg,having a first end,respectively and a second endrespectively, wherein the first side legis longer longitudinally than the second side legThe first side legis converged with the hookat the first endof the first side legto form one continuous body, and the second side legis oriented inward at the second end of the second side leginstead of being connected to the hookof hanger. The hangerincludes a horizontal bottom leghaving at least two notches,,, and a first and a second end,, wherein the bottom legis converged at first and second ends,of the bottom legwith the second endof the first side legand the first endof the second side leg, forming two vertices of angelsand. In one embodiment of the hanger, the hook, the two diagonal side legs,, and the horizontal bottom legare converged with each other at their respective ends using molding, welding, or adhesion techniques. Alternatively, the hangermay define one continuous body by laser cutting, molding, stamping, or three-dimensional printing techniques to form the hook, the two diagonal side legs,, and the horizontal bottom leg. The vertices have a larger width compared to that of the side and horizontal bottom legs,,

Referring to, one embodiment of the hangerconsists of a unitary body, including at least one hook, a side leghaving a first endand a second end, a side leghaving a first endand a second end, and a horizontal bottom leghaving a first endand a second endThe hookconverges with side legat first endforming one continuous body. The side legat second endconverges with endof bottom horizontal legfurthering the one continuous body. The first endof side legconverges with second endof bottom horizontal legfurthering the continuous body. As best seen in, the side legs,and the horizontal bottom legdefine a discontinuity (or open space) between the legs,, andsuch that the second endof side legdoes not converge with side legor bottom horizontal leg, but rather extends into the discontinuity. Together side legsandand bottom horizontal legform a continuous body that comprises the hanger, as best seen in.

The bottom horizontal legincludes portions defining at least two notchesandat or near endsandas best seen inshows an alternative embodiment where a plurality of notches extends the length of the bottom horizontal leg

As best seen in the exemplary embodiments shown in, the hookincludes a top horizontal portionthat extends longitudinally to allow the hook to be grasped easily, facilitating easier handling and carrying of the hanger. The hookis rounded inward, defining a first radiusThe inner portion of hooktransitions into a downward line that forms section, which transitions into an inward curveCurvetransitions into a line that forms section, which defines a width of side legThe lineterminates at first notchof the plurality of notches. At first radius, the outer portion of hooktransitions into a first sectionhaving a negative slope, which converges with side leg. The first sectiontransitions at a second radiusoriented outward in a direction opposite the hangerbody center and transitions to a second sectionof side leg, which has a negative slope. The second sectiontransitions to a third radius, defining an inwardly curved surface. The third radiusconverges with first endof horizontal bottom legto form first angle, wherein the third radiusand the bottom horizontal legdefine a third sectionThe third sectiondefines a width that is greater than the width of horizontal bottom legand the width of second section

With continued reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in, the first endof the side legdefines a fourth radiusthat transitions into a first sectionthat converges at the second endof bottom horizontal leg, creating a second angleThe fourth radiustransitions into a second sectionhaving a positive slope relative to the horizontal axis. The second sectiondefines a fifth radiusthat transitions into a third sectionhaving a negative slope and defining a third angleat second endof side legAt the side leg's end point, the third sectiondefines a neckhaving a width and length that transitions at a sixth radius, which defines a line that transitions into third angleThird angletransitions into a line that forms sectionthat defines a width of side legThe line that forms sectionterminates at notchof the plurality of notches. The width of side legis less than the width between notchand first sectionReferring to, the diagonal longitudinal length of side legmay be shorter than that of side leg

As best seen in the exemplary embodiments shown in, the neckprojects into the discontinuity (open space) between side legsand, defining an open space between side legs,, and horizontal bottom legAs best seen in, the body of the hangerand the discontinuity (also described as an open space) between each of the legs,, andpermits garments to be moved between the side legsandand onto the horizontal bottom leg

Referring to,shows an illustrative embodiment of the side view of hangerandshows an illustrative embodiment of the bottom view of hanger. The legs, and, respectively, may be planar elements of uniform thickness converged with one another at their respective ends (except the second endof side legremains free) to form one continuous plane as shown in the illustrative embodiment of. In an exemplary embodiment, hangermay be made of a uniform thickness between 2 and 5 millimeters.

Hangershown 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, including the hook, the legs,, and, may be made of the same material as the hangerto form a unitary body of uniform thickness and uniform finish as shown in the illustrative embodiment of.

Referring to, all elements of hanger, including hook, legs,, andmay 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, legs,, andmay 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 hookand legs,, and, 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.

Referring to the discontinuity describe at paragraphs [0013] and [0020], the discontinuity may also be created by other means such as tilting the second sectionof side leg, twisting it, or the like. The discontinuity serves several purposes, including, but not limited to, allowing hangerto 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 hangerinto 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. The discontinuity may also allow for reduced rotation of hangerwhile inserting hangerinto various garment articles.

Referring to, the respective endsandof bottom horizontal legmay be joined to or integrally formed with side legsandusing any suitable converging means, including, but not limited to, molding, adhesion, welding, or the like to form anglesandof horizontal legAlternatively, legs,, andmay 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 anglesandof horizontal legThe vertices of anglesandhave increased width along the transverse direction compared to legs,and. One benefit of the increased width is to enhance the durability of the hanger at the vertices, which are susceptible to greater stress.

Referring to, in the embodiment shown, bottom horizontal legincludes at least two notches,and, each located at or near bottom horizontal leg endsandrespectively. The notchesandmay be substantially rectangular in shape as shown in. The notchesandare not limited to be rectangular in shape but may also take the form of any other shapes such as circular, as exemplified in, or triangular. The notches may be engraved, extruded, carved, cut, or otherwise formed out of bottom horizontal legThe notches are enclosed from the bottom and sides, and only open from the top as shown in the illustrative embodiment of.shows an alternative embodiment, wherein a plurality of notches are formed along the horizontal bottom legIn all embodiments, the two or more notches allow thin straps and similar garment elements to rest or to be suspended from the bottom horizontal legneatly and easily.

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.