FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to garment hangers and pertains more particularly to hangers for garments of the type having shoulder straps.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the marketing of garments of the type having shoulder straps, such as brassieres, various forms of hangers are known, such as are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,738,549, 4,623,079 and 4,828,155, having a hook portion elevated above a centralportion, the hanger having the facility for retentively and releasably receiving the bra straps. Such hangers comprise wing portions extending generally horizontally from the central portion, each wing portion having structure at its free end for suchbra strap receipt. Ladies' slips and certain evening gowns are likewise hangable, having shoulder straps insertable in the wing portion free end structure.

From applicants' perspective, known hangers for garments of the type having shoulder straps exhibit less than desired garment retention capacity. In one aspect, wing portions of known hangers do not derive benefit of gravity in shoulder strapretention. In another aspect, wing portions of known hangers do not have positive, i.e., spring force, retention capacity. In a further aspect, wing portions of known hangers do not afford the garment seller the facility for retention of shoulderstraps in one of plural dispositions for more esthetically pleasing display of the garment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has as its primary object the provision of hangers for improved hanging of garments of the type having shoulder straps.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide hangers having improved facility for the retention of the shoulder straps of garments hung therefrom.

A quite specific object of the invention is the provision of garment hangers adapted to afford the garment seller the facility for retention of shoulder straps in one of plural dispositions for more esthetically pleasing display of the garment.

In attaining the foregoing and other objects, the invention provides an upstanding hanger for the hanging of a garment of the type having shoulder straps, the hanger having a central portion, a hook portion extending upwardly of the centralportion and first and second wing portions extending outwardly of respective opposed side margins of the central portion, each wing portion having an end segment inclined downwardly at an acute angle with respect to the wing portion and defining a slotfor receipt of a garment shoulder strap.

In a second aspect, hangers of the invention having central and wing portions configure the wing portions with end segments which have spring action capacity for retentively notching shoulder straps therein.

In a third aspect, hangers of the invention having central and wing portions configure the wing portions with end segments which have the capacity for retaining shoulder straps in one of plural positions relative thereto for more estheticallypleasing display of the garment.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, hangers of invention include in their first and second wing portions end segments defining a slot interiorly thereof and a first opening extending downwardly into the slot for insertion of a garmentshoulder strap. Each slot has a central open part and at least one open sideward part continuous with the central part through a second opening and adapted for retentively collecting therein a garment shoulder strap received in the central part.

The foregoing and other objects and features of the invention will be further understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof and from the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify like partsthroughout.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a hanger in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan elevation of the FIG. 1 hanger.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan elevation of the FIG. 1 hanger.

FIG. 4 is a right side elevation of the FIG. 1 hanger.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial front elevation of the end segment of the right wing portion of the FIG. 1 hanger.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view as would be seen from plane VI--VI of FIG. 5.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are repeat showings of FIG. 5, illustrating the wing portion end segment in association with inserted garment shoulder straps.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, hanger 10 is an integral body of synthetic material having a central portion 12, a hook portion H extending upwardly of central portion 12 and first and second wing portions 14 and 16, extending outwardly of respectiveopposed side margins of central portion 12. First and second wing portions 14 and 16 have respective end segments 18 and 20.

Irrespective of preferred detailed structure for shoulder strap retention below, the downward inclination at an acute angle of the end segments 18 and 20 relative to the wing portions 14 and 16 provides the benefit of gravity in the retention ofgarment shoulder straps.

The preferred configuration of the end segments will be best seen in the enlarged presentation of FIGS. 5 and 6, which depict end segment 20 in part and to which reference is now made.

End segment 20 defines slot 22 interiorly thereof and a first opening 24 extending downwardly into slot 22 for insertion of a garment shoulder strap. In providing opening 24, end segment 20 has its upper perimeter separated into courses 26 and28. Slot 22 has a central open part 30 which is bounded by courses 32, 34 and 36. Open sideward parts 38 and 40 are continuous with central open part 30 through openings 42 and 44, which are formed respectively by breaks between courses 32 and 34 and32 and 36. Openings 42 and 44 are adapted for retentively collecting therein a garment shoulder strap received in central open part 30 as is discussed in connection with FIGS. 7 and 8 below.

Open sideward parts 38 and 40 are preferably of generally circular configuration and are sectorally open to cooperatively define the second opening for such continuity with the open central part 30.

In the preferred configuration for slot 22, as is illustrated in FIG. 5, the slot is of generally triangular configuration having openings 42 and 44 at the respective junctions of the first and second and the second and third sides thereof, whichare courses 32, 34 and 36.

The overall hanger configuration preferably has first and second wing portions 14 and 16 extending generally horizontally outwardly of central portion 12, the first and second end segments 18 and 20 extending at acute angles downwardly andoutwardly of first and second wing portions 14 and 16.

As is seen in FIG. 6 for courses 26, 32 and 34, they have widths greater than the width of the central planar portion 46 of end segment 20, i.e., the hanger configuration is of I-beam type. This configuration is preferably used throughout thehanger body providing increased rigidity with less material requirements and providing resistance to warpage.

Logo or product information may be placed in area 48 of hanger central portion 12 (FIG. 1) and size information may be placed on hanger hook part 50.

Referring now to FIG. 7, in use of the hanger, arms 52 and 54 are cantilever-supported and are movable upwardly in the plane of FIG. 7, in spring-like manner, to increase the sizes of openings 42 and 44, to permit the insertion of a garment straptherein and therethrough into respective sideward open parts 38 and 40. Certain garments will hang in a more esthetically pleasing manner if hung, as in FIG. 7, i.e., with shoulder strap 56 inserted in inboard sideward open part 38 and notched thereinon release of arm 52 from upward movement, the notching being effected by the ends of courses 32 and 34.

Other garments will be best hung by disposition of their shoulder straps in outboard sideward open part 40. For still other garments, e.g., sport bras, which have quite wide shoulder straps, hanging is effected by the use of both the inboard andoutboard sideward open parts 38 and 40, such as is shown for shoulder strap 58 in FIG. 8.

Various changes to structure and modifications in practice may be introduced in the foregoing embodiments and practices without departing from the invention. Thus, the particularly discussed and depicted embodiments are intended in anillustrative and not in a limiting sense. The true spirit and scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims.

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