III US005476199A

IIII
United States Patent (19) 11 Patent Number: 5,476,199
Halverson et al. 45) Date of Patent: Dec. 19, 1995
54 EXTENDABLE CLOTHES HANGER FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
1224378 971960 France ..................................... 223/89
76 Inventors: Carolyn M. Halverson, 202 E. Ann
St., P.O. Box 188, Weyauwega, Wis. OTHER PUBLICATIONS
54983; Paula R. Halverson, 7457
Kentland Ave., West Hills, Calif. 91307 PCT/AU85/00103, Extendible Garment Harger, Kalet, Nov.
1986.
21 Appl. No. 216,552 Primary Examiner-C. D. Crowder
22 Filed: Mar. 23, 1994 Assistant Examiner Bibhu Mohanty
51) Int. Cl. ... as a a as a A47G 2S/44
57) ABSTRACT
52 U.S. Cl. ................. ... 223/94; 223/89 A clothes hanger having movably adjustable, extendable
58 Field of Search .................................. 223/94, 89, 85, clothing support arms, enabling the side-to-side or lateral
223/92; 403/331, 335; 248/298; 211/113; extent of the hanger to be adjusted or extended to fit clothing
D6/315, 318,324, 328 of different sizes. The movably adjustable hanger arms may
both be independently and continuously adjustable from a
56) References Cited fully withdrawn or non-extended position to a fully laterally
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS extended position and are attached to each fixed or station
ary inclined arm of the hanger by a multiplicity of friction
D. 330,635 11/1992 Licari. ally engaging flexible gripping members cooperating with
2,053,633 9/1936 Raternow .................................. 223.95 longitudinally extending grooves provided in the adjustable
2,500,817 3/1950 Glassmeyer .. ... 22.3/89 arms and the fixed arms of the hanger, respectively. The
2,531,108 11/1950 Casey ........................................ 223,189 hanger may be made of molded, recycled plastic or polymer
3,799,412 3/1974 Ahlgren. material.
5,052,599 10/1991 Platti.
5,082,152 1/1992 Chen.
5,085,358 2/1992 Lam. 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
U.S. Patent 5,476,199
U.S. Patent Dec. 19, 1995 Sheet 2 of 4 5,476,199
U.S. Patent Dec. 19, 1995 Sheet 4 of 4 5,476,199

S. OY
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EXTENDABLE CLOTHES HANGER arms and the fixed arms of the hanger, respectively. The
hanger preferably is made of molded, recycled plastic or
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION polymer material.
1. Field of the Invention The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the
more important features of the present invention in order
The invention relates to adjustable clothes hangers for that the detailed description thereof that follows may be
hanging clothes of various sizes with generally equal ease better understood, and in order that the present contributions
and facility. to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course,
2. Description of the Prior Art additional features of the invention that will be described
Adjustable garment hangers are known in the prior art. 10 hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the
For example, Darden, U.S. Pat. No. 3,802,611, discloses a claims appended hereto.
hanger having adjustable trouser hanging means and a In this respect, before explaining the most preferred
collapsible neck portion. McClenning, U.S. Pat. No. 3,874, embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood
572, shows a clothes hanger having extendable arms. The 15 that the invention is not limited in its application to the
extendable arm sections are adapted to fit within channels in details of the construction and to the arrangements of the
the main, supporting arms, said arms being rotatable at a components set forth in the following description or illus
central support position, under the hook. The movable arm trated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other
sections fit within the channels in a sliding arrangement. embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in
Wang, U.S. Pat. No. 4,717053, discloses a foldable minia 20 various ways. Also, it is to be understood, that the phrase
ture garment hanger having extendible and retractable arms. ology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose
The extension arms fit within channels in a partially slidable of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
arrangement. Karner, U.S. Pat. No. 4,391,395, shows a As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
clothes hanger comprising a tubular central portion to tele conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily
scopically hold slidable "end pieces' between inner and 25 be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods,
outer (extended) positions. Further, Gatling, U.S. Pat. No. and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the
4,905,877, shows an adjustable garment hanger with a main present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims
body member having a pair of oppositely extending arms be regarded as including such equivalent constructions inso
within a pair of sleeves that slide over the arms to provide far as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the
hanger arms of variable lengths. Additionally, Chen, U.S. 30 present invention.
Pat. No. 5,082,152, shows a clothes hanger with a pair of It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide
extendible shoulder members telescopically mounted on a a new and improved extendable clothes hanger which has all
pair of basic shoulder members. Moreover, Lain, U.S. Pat. of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvan
No. 5,085,358, shows a clothes hanger having adjustable tages.
arm lengths by means of extender arms mounted for pivot 35
ing and sliding movement along a support arms. It is another object of the present invention to provide a
While the clothes hanger arrangements shown by the new an improved extendable clothes hanger which may be
above prior art generally provide adjustable means for easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
Supporting garments of variable sizes, none of these pat It is a further objective of the present invention to provide
ented hangers, together or combined, discloses or suggests 40 a new and improved extendable clothes hanger that is of
the overall design, configuration, and material of the present durable and reliable construction.
invention, which is directed to clothes hangers that may be Another important object of the present invention is to
fabricated from molded, virgin or recycled polymer mate provide an adjustable clothes hanger having the property of
rials, and which hangers having adjustable left and right side adjustable length, while maintaining strength through appro
members fixed to stationary supporting arms by the use of priate selection of materials and cross-sectional configura
molded clamp members engaging grooves or slots in the 45 tion.
fixed arms and the adjustable arms thereof. As such, the A further object of the present invention is to provide an
hanger according to the present invention achieves advan adjustable clothes hanger that may be used in closet spaces
tages in simplicity of construction, cost, and operational or other areas having a horizontal supporting pole positioned
efficiency over the prior art all of which will be made 50 at a location with unequal frontal and rearward dimensions,
apparent from the following description thereof. Other such as, for example, closet spaces existing in some recre
advantages of the present invention over the prior art also ational vehicles and boats.
will be rendered evident. Still another object is to provide a clothes hanger that may
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
be made of molded, virgin or recycled plastic or polymer
55 material and mixtures thereof.
To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the These and other objects are achieved in accordance with
present invention, briefly described, provides a clothes the present invention by the design and fabrication of an
hanger having movably adjustable, extendable clothing sup adjustable garment or clothes hanger having an easily
port arms, enabling the side-to-side or lateral extent of the adjustable left and right arm sections that may be extended
hanger to be adjusted or extended to fit clothing of different 60 to accommodate clothing of different sizes. The clothes
sizes. The movably adjustable hanger arms may both be hanger of the present invention may be used not only for
independently and continuously adjustable from a fully smaller than average garments, but also for larger than
withdrawn or non-extended position to a fully laterally average. As is well known, clothing having a size larger than
extended position and are attached to each fixed or station average will tend to fall off of the conventional hanger
ary inclined arm of the hanger by a multiplicity of friction 65 designed only for average sizes. Moreover, the hanger of the
ally engaging flexible gripping members cooperating with present invention may be employed in smaller than usual,
longitudinally extending grooves provided in the adjustable cramped or asymmetrical configured closest spaces because
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the extension arms may be adjusted to fit such conditions. ing groove or slot 14, 14a or 15, 15a provided in arms 17,
Finally, the adjustable clothes hanger of the present inven 18 on the one hand and slidable extension arms 12 and 13
tion may be made (e.g. molded) from virgin or recycled on the other hand. Fingers 21 and 22 are integrally attached
polymer material, or mixtures thereof, and thus, is environ at their base to non-adjustable hanger arms 17, 18 and
mentally friendly. adjustable extension arms 12 and 13 and are slightly flexible
These together with still other objects of the invention, to permit easy installation and removable by snap fit or
along with the various features of novelty which character removal of the protuberances relative to the grooves as will
ize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the be apparent in an obvious manner. By this construction,
claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For arms 12, 13 may be slidably displaced to any fixed relative
position on arms 17, 18 with the range of displacement being
a better understanding of the invention, its operating advan O
defined by the longitudinal extent of grooves 4, 14a 15, and
tages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference 15a.
now should be had to the accompanying drawings and FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the slidable movement from a
description matter in which there are illustrated mostly fully withdrawn position (FIG. 2) to a position where
preferred embodiments of the invention. extensible arms are withdrawn laterally approximately one
5
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
third of their range of motion. It will be appreciated that the
arcuate finger-like clamps 9 may be attached contiguously to
The invention will be better understood and the above their respective arm parts by molding as is believed well
objects as well as objects other than those set forth above known in the plastics forming art.
will become more apparent after a study of the following 20 As indicated by FIG. 3, the adjustable arms 12, 13 may be
detailed description thereof. Such description makes refer extended to an outward (laterally extended) position, either
ence to the annexed drawings wherein: individually or together, to make what would be a hanger
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hanger of the present having a length-wise dimension of about 12 inches into a
invention. hanger having a length of about 20 inches, for example.
FIG. 2 shows an elevational view of the hanger of FIG. 1 25 However, in some circumstances it will be apparent that the
with the extension arms positioned inwardly. extension arms may be unequally distended, especially
when it is desired to use the hanger in a narrow closet spaces
FIG. 3 shows an elevational view of the hanger of FIG. 1 Such as those found on a boat or a recreational vehicle (RV).
with the extension arms positioned outwardly. As shown by FIGS. 4through 6, the cross-sectional shape
FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 30 of the hanger parts described above may assume an elliptical
of FIG. 2. or generally circular cross-sectional configuration in order to
FIG. 5 shows across-sectional view taken along line 5-5 gain obvious structural advantages from molded plastic or
of FIG. 2, polymer materials.
FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show the separate members of the clothes
of FIG. 2. 35 hanger of the present invention in an unassembled condition.
FIG. 7 shows an elevational view of the hanger of FIG. 1 As shown in FIG. 8, extension arm 12 terminates at its
without the extension arms assembled thereto. rightmost end in clamping member 19 and terminates in its
FIG. 8 shows an elevational view of only the rightmost opposed leftmost end in a curved portion 28 which serves to
extension arm of the hanger illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6. define a sloped shoulder for the extension arm facilitating
40 insertion into the arm or sleeve portions of a garment, and
FIG. 9 shows an elevational view of only the leftmost secondly as a convenient handle or grip for sliding the
extension arm of the hanger illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6. extension arm on its corresponding fixed hanger arm 17. The
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED elongated middle portion of arm 12 is straight and includes
EMBODIMENT
grooves 14a.
45
In similar fashion, FIG. 9 shows extension arm 13 which
With reference now to the drawings, a new and improved terminates at its leftmost end in clamping member 19 and
extendable clothes hanger embodying the principles and terminates in its opposed rightmost end in a curved shoulder
concepts of the present invention will be described. portion 30, The elongated middle portion of arm 13 also is
Turning initially to FIGS. 1-9, there is shown the mostly 50
straight and includes grooves 15a.
preferred embodiment of the extendable clothes hanger In assembling arms 12 and 13 on hanger 10 (FIG. 7), all
apparatus of the present invention generally designated by that is necessary is to snap fit the various flexible clamps 19
reference numeral 10. of the hanger parts into their respective grooves 14, 14a, 15
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the hanger of the and 15a in a manner now believed apparent.
present invention has the usual triangular overall shape and 55 The selection of suitable materials for making the hanger
comprises a hook 9 in contiguous joined relationship with an and for obtaining optimum structural results, in the light of
integral left side arm 17 and integral right side arm 18. The the disclosed utility of the present invention, is considered to
arms 17 and 18 are joined together at their extreme distal be within the skill of an ordinary worker in the art, and the
ends through lower horizontal structural member 20. invention is particularly suitable for using plastic or polymer
In accordance with the invention, a pair of extension arms 60 materials that have previously been used for other articles,
12 and 13 are slidably connected, respectively, to arms 17 namely, recycled plastics, such plastics commonly known as
and 18 by means of a series of flexible clamps or gripping thermoplastic polymers, though, obviously, inorganic and
members 19. Each flexible clamp 19 has a pair of opposed organic filler materials may be included within such con
arcuate shaped fingers 21 and 22 terminating at their distal positions or materials.
ends in an inwardly facing protuberance 23, 24 substantially 65 It is apparent from the above that the present invention
as shown. Each protuberance in turn, extends into and accomplishes all of the objectives set forth by providing a
frictionally engages a corresponding longitudinally extend new and improved extendable clothes hanger having mov
 5,476,199
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ably adjustable, extendable clothing support arms, enabling protuberances are oriented so as to extend towards one
the side-to-side or lateral extent of the hanger to be adjusted another, the left extension arm protuberances extending
or extended to fit clothing of different sizes. The movably into the left side arm longitudinal grooves extending
adjustable hanger arms may both be independently and longitudinally along opposed sides of the left side arm,
continuously adjustable from a fully withdrawn or non a right side arm gripping means for removably and
extended position to a fully laterally extended position and slidably coupling the right extension arm relative to the
are attached to each fixed or stationary inclined arm of the right side arm, the right side arm gripping means
hanger by a multiplicity of frictionally engaging flexible comprising a pair of arcuately shaped right extension
gripping members cooperating with longitudinally extend
ing grooves provided in the adjustable arms and the fixed 10
arm fingers mounted to opposed sides of the right
arms of the hanger, respectively. The hanger may be made extension arm, the right extension arm fingers each
of molded, recycled plastic or polymer material. terminating in a right extension arm protuberance,
Thus, while the present invention has been shown in the wherein the right extension arm protuberances are
drawings and fully described above with particularity and oriented so as to extend towards one another, the right
detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the 5 extension arm protuberances extending into the right
most practical and preferred embodiment(s) of the inven side arm longitudinal grooves extending longitudinally
tion, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art along opposed sides of the right side arm;
that many modifications thereof may be made without wherein the left extension arm includes a pair of left
departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein, extension arm longitudinal grooves extending longitu
including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, 20
dinally along opposed sides thereof, and the right
shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly
and use. extension arm including a pair of right extension arm
Hence, the proper scope of the present invention should longitudinal grooves extending longitudinally along
be determined only by the broadest interpretation of the opposed sides thereof;
appended claims so as encompass all such modifications as 25 and further comprising a left extension arm gripping
well as all relationships equivalent to those illustrated in the means for removably and slidably coupling the left side
drawings and described in the specification. arm relative to the left extension arm, the left extension
Finally, it will be appreciated that the purpose of the arm gripping means comprising, pair of arcuately
Abstract provided at the beginning of this specification is to shaped left side arm finges mounted to opposed sides of
enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public 30
generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and prac the left side arm, the left side arm fingers each termi
titioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal nating in a left side arm protuberance, wherein the left
terms of phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory side arm protuberances are oriented so as to extend
inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure towards one another, the left side arm protuberances
of the application. Accordingly, the Abstract is neither 35 extending into the left extension arm longitudinal
intended to define the invention or the application, which grooves extending longitudinally along opposed sides
only is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be of the left extension arm;
limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. and,
What is claimed as being new, and is desired to be a right side arm gripping means for removably and
protected by LETTERS PATENT of the United States is as 40
follows: slidably coupling the right side arm relative to the right
1. An adjustable clothes hanger comprising: extension arm, the right extension arm gripping means
a hook having a lower end; comprising a pair of arcuately shaped right side arm
a left side arm projecting from the lower end of the hook 45 fingers mounted to opposed sides of the right side arm,
at an oblique angle oriented downwardly relative the right side arm fingers each terminating in a right
thereto, and a right side arm projecting from the lower side arm protuberance, wherein the right side arm
end of the hook at an oblique angle oriented down protuberances are oriented so as to extend towards one
wardly relative thereto, the left and right side arms another, the right side arm protuberances extending into
projecting in opposite directions from the lower end of 50 the right extension arm longitudinal grooves extending
the hook and residing in a common plane, the left side longitudinally along opposed sides of the right exten
arm including a pair of left side arm longitudinal sion arm.
grooves extending longitudinally along opposed sides 2. The adjustable clothes hanger of claim 1, wherein the
thereof, and the right side arm including a pair of right left extension arm terminates at its leftmost end in a left
side arm longitudinal grooves extending longitudinally 55 downwardly curved shoulder portion, and further wherein
along opposed sides thereof, the right extension arm terminates at its rightmost end in a
a left extension arm positioned above the left side arm and right downwardly curved shoulder portion.
residing within the common plane, and a right exten 3. The adjustable clothes hanger of claim 2, wherein the
sion arm positioned above the right side arm and arms are substantially circular in cross section.
residing within the common plane; 60 4. The adjustable clothes hanger of claim 2, and further
a left side arm gripping means for removably and slidably comprising a lower horizontal structural member extending
coupling the left extension arm relative to the left side between outer ends of the side arms.
arm, the left side arm gripping means comprising a pair 5. The adjustable clothes hanger of claim 3, wherein the
of arcuately shaped left extension arm fingers mounted side arm gripping means are each located proximal to a
to opposed sides of the left extension arm, the left 65 juncture of the respective side arm and the lower horizontal
extension arm fingers each terminating in a left exten structural member.
sion arm protuberance, wherein the left extension arm 6. The adjustable clothes hanger of claim 5, wherein the
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left extension arm terminates at its leftmost end in a left extension arm gripping means are each located opposite the
downwardly curved shoulder portion, and further wherein downwardly curved shoulder portion of the respective
the right extension arm terminates at its rightmost end in a extension arms.
right downwardly curved shoulder portion.
7. The adjustable clothes hanger of claim 6, wherein the