Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
HANGE~
BAC~GROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hanger for hanging and
suspending a garment for drying, displaying or storing.
Description of Related Art
For storing a garment or drying a washed garment, the
garment can be kept in shape by hanging it on a hanger. A
hanger comprises a hanging part for hanging a garment and a
suspending part for supporting the hanging part at its center.
With the neck and a hung portion of the garment hung on the
hanging part of the hanger, the suspending part is projected
upward through the neck, and a hook-shaped tip portion of the
suspending part is hitched on, for example, a clothes-drying
bar. Since the suspending part is disposed at the center of
the hanging part, the hanger is balanced between the shoulders
of the hung garment, and hence, the garment hung on the hanger
can be stably kept.
When, for example, a turtleneck sweater or a child sweater
having a small neck is hung on such a hanger, the neck of the
sweater is stretched by inserting rightward and leftward
extending portions of the hanging part through the neck,
26 resulting in spoiling the shape of the sweater. Therefore, the
.
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entire hanger is inserted into the sweater from the lower hem
thereof, the hanger is moved upward within the sweater so as to
project the suspending part through the neck, and the shoulders
of the sweater are adjusted to lie on the rightward and
leftward extending portions of the hanging part. The neck can
be thus prevented from being stretched, but the hanger should
be moved by a distance equal to the length of the garment,
which is troublesome. In addition, for drying a washed
garment, since the garment is wet and heavy, it is more
difficult to move the hanger within the garment. When the
garment is removed from the hanger, the procedures are
reversed. In this case, the tip portion of the suspending part
can be caught by a part of the garment, resulting in
disadvantageously damaging the garment.
A hanger for solving such disadvantages is now
commercially available. FIG. 1 is a front view of this hanger.
In this hanger, a hanging part 31 having rightward and leftward
extending portions is supported at its center by a suspending
part 32, and the hanging part 31 is provided with a notch 33,
which is formed by bending a substantially center part of the
rightward or leftward extending portion to be closer to the
other, i.e., the leftward or rightward, portion. When a
garment is to be hung on this hanger, the rightward or leftward
portion having the notch 33 of the hanging part 31 is first
inserted through the neck of the garment, and the neck is moved
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along the notch 33. After the neck reaches the end of the
notch 33, the other leftward or rightward portion of the
hanging part 31 is inserted through the neck, and the shoulders
of the garment are adjusted to lie on the hanging part 31. In
using this hanger, there is no need to insert the hanger
through the lower hem of the garment and move it within the
garment. However, when the distance between the end of the
notch 33 and the tip of the other leftward or rightward portion
of the hanging part 31 exceeds the size of the neck of the
garment to be hung, the neck is unavoidably stretched.
SUMMA~Y OF THE INVENTION
The present invention was devised to overcome the
aforementioned problems, and the object is providing a hanger
for easily hanging an object to be hung without spoiling the
shape of the object, by changing the positional relationship
between a hanging member having plural catching portions and a
suspending member.
The hanger of this invention comprises a hanging member
for hanging an object; and a suspending member for catching and
supporting the hanging member with an engaging part, and the
hanging member includes a plurality of catching portions which
are fittable with the engaging part of the suspending member,
and the catching portions are adoptable to catch and to be
supported by the engaging part of the suspending member by
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moving the hanging member.
Accordingly, the suspending member can be engaged with the
plural catching portions of the hanging member, so as to
support the hanging member at the respective positions of the
catching portions. Therefore, the direction of the hanging
member can be changed in accordance with the states of the
object to be hung, such as a state where the object is started
to be hung, a state where the object is hung and suspended, and
a state where the object is removed. In starting hanging the
object, the engaging part is engaged with the catching portion
disposed at the end of the hanging member, so as to support the
hanging member to extend in the longitudinal direction. Thus,
the hanging member can be easily inserted through a narrow
portion of the object. Then, the engaging part is released
from the catching portion and is engaged with the other
catching portion disposed at the center of the hanging member.
Thus, the hanging member can be supported so as to extend in
the lateral direction suitably for suspending the object. In
removing the object from the hanger, the engaging part is
released from the catching portion at the center and is engaged
with the catching portion disposed at the end, so that the
hanging member is supported to extend in the longitudinal
direction. Thus, the hanging member can be easily pulled out
through the narrow portion of the object. In this manner, the
object can be smoothly hung on and removed from the hanger in a
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short period of time.
In one aspect of the present hanger, the hanging member
includes a shoulder part for hanging the object and at least
one side part extending form the shoulder part and adoptable as
one of the catching portions; the engaging part of the
suspending member is formed in a U-shape in a side view, having
an upward projection at a bottom center of the U-shape; and one
of the catching portions of the hanging member is a recess
formed at substantially a center of the shoulder part and
fittable with the projection, the hanging member is movable in
a space disposed in opposing the engaging part, and the
projection of the suspending member is adoptable to be caught
by and support the recess and the side part of the hanging
member by moving the hanging member in the space.
In still another aspect, the present suspending member of
the hanger cDmprises an engaging part in a U-shape, in a side
view, having an upward projection formed at a bottom center of
the U-shape for being caught by and supporting a hanging member
including a shoulder part, for hanging an object, having a
recess at substantially a center thereof and at least one side
part extending from an end of the shoulder part, and the
projection is adoptable to be caught by and support the recess
and the side part by moving the hanging member in a space
disposed in opposing the engaging part.
In still another aspect, the present hanging member of the
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hanger comprises a shoulder part for hanging an object having,
at substantially a center thereof, a recess fittable with an
upward projection formed at a center bottom of a U-shaped part,
in a side view, of a suspending member; and at least one side
part extending from an end of the shoulder part, and the
hanging member is movable in a space disposed in opposing the
U-shaped part, and the recess and the side part are adoptable
to catch and to be supported by the projection by moving the
hanging member.
Accordingly, when the side part catches and is supported
by the projection, the side part with a small width is disposed
at an upper end of the hanging member, resulting in suspending
the hanging member so as to extend in the longitudinal
direction. Thus, the hanger can attain a shape easily inserted
through the narrow portion of the object. Furthermore, when
the recess catches and is supported by the projection, the side
part of the hanging member is disposed at a right or left end,
resulting in suspending the hanging member so as to extend in
the lateral direction. Thus, the hanger can attain a shape
suitable for hanging the object. Such a change of the shape of
the hanger can be easily attained through engagement or release
between the projection and the recess by rotating the hanging
member and moving the hanging member in the space disposed in
opposing the engaging part. As a result, for example, a
garment with a small neck such as a child sweater can be
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smoothly hung on and removed from the hanger without spoiling
the shape of the neck. Furthermore, when the hanger is stored
while suspended on a bar, a space for the storage can be
prevented from expanding in the horizontal direction by
catching the projection by the side part to support the hanger.
In addition, when the suspending member or the hanging member
is lost or broken, a desired member alone can be replaced with
a new one.
In still another aspect, the projection has a height
larger than a depth of the recess, and a supporting piece for
supporting an opening edge of the recess are projected on a
base portion of the projection.
In still another aspect, the projection has, in a
sectional view, an arc-shaped top portion and a substantially
trapezoid base portion with a larger width toward a bottom
thereof, and the recess has, in a sectional view, an arc-shaped
bottom portion and a substantially trapezoid opening with a
larger width toward an edge thereof.
Accordingly, the projection is engaged with the recess
merely through contact between the top portion of the
projection and the bottom portion of the recess. Therefore,
the hanging member can be swung by slightly rotating the
hanging member, so that the peripheral face of the recess is
moved away from the peripheral face of the projection. Since
the projection has a height larger than the depth of the
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recess, the edge of the recess comes in contact with the
supporting piece after removing from the peripheral faceJ and
the hanging member is rotated with the supporting piece as a
center. The engagement between the projection and the recess
can be thus easily released. In addition, in the reverse
operation, the recess can be easily engaged with the
projection.
In still another aspect, the hanging member is removable
from the suspending member. Accordingly, the hanger can be
stored with the hanging member removed from the suspending
member, resulting in requiring only a small space for the
storage.
In still another aspect, the suspending member includes a
clipping part in a U-shape in a sectional view and an elastic
member for applying a force in a direction to make ends of the
clipping part closer to each other.
Accordingly, by clipping a bar such as a clothes-drying
bar with the U-shaped clipping part, the hanger can be
suspended on the bar. Since the elastic member makes the ends
of the clipping part closer to each other by its elasticity,
the hanger can be fixed on the bar so as not to come off from
the bar even when the hanger is winded or a sudden external
force is applied to the hanger.
In still another aspect, the elastic me~ber is a split
ring spring, the clipping part is provided with spring bearing
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pieces projected outward from an outer face of the U-shape, and
the split ring spring is supported and fixed by the spring
bearing pieces at both ends with a center of the split ring
spring positioned on a bottom of the U-shape of the clipping
part.
Accordingly, owing to the elasticity of the split ring
spring fixed on the clipping part, the ends of the clipping
part are more strongly pushed in the direction to make them
closer to each other, resulting in enforcing the fixation on
the bar. In addition, the elasticity of the split ring spring
has a sufficient restoring property even after long time usage.
Therefore, even after clipping a bar with a large diameter for
a long period of time, the clipping part can strongly clip a
bar with a small diameter.
In still another aspect, the suspending member includes
clipping pieces opposing each other and linked with each other
at one end thereof through a bent portion, each of the clipping
pieces rounding out at substantially a center thereof, the
other end of each of the clipping pieces being curved outward,
and the clipping pieces are provided, at portions closer to the
bent portion, with spring bearing pieces projected outward from
outer faces of the clipping pieces, for supporting ends of a
split ring spring for applying a force in a direction to make
the clipping pieces closer to each other.
Accordingly, since the clipping pieces round out at
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substantially the center thereof, a bar such as a clothes-
drying bar can be stably clipped. Furthermore, since the ends
of the clipping pieces are curved outward, the bar can be
easily guided to the center of the clipping part in hanging the
suspending member on the bar. In addition, owing to the
elasticity of the split ring spring fixed on the bent portion,
the ends of the clipping pieces are more strongly pushed in the
direction to make them closer to each other, resulting in
enforcing the fixation on the bar.
In still another aspect, each of the spring bearing pieces
includes a stop portion having a face formed toward the bent
portion of the suspending member for stopping movement of the
split ring spring in a lengthwise direction of the clipping
pieces at the tips of the split ring spring; and first and
second restricting portions each having a face formed along the
lengthwise direction of the clipping pieces for restricting
movement of the split ring spring in a widthwise direction of
the clipping pieces at both sides of the ends of the split ring
springJ and the split ring spring is supportable to be
positioned along the bent portion with the ends thereof
inserted into the spring bearing pieces.
Accordingly, since the tips of the split ring spring butt
against the stop portions, the split ring spring is prevented
from moving toward the ends of the clipping pieces. Also,
since the both sides of the ends of the split ring spring butt
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against the first and second restricting portions, the split
ring spring is prevented from being shifted in the widthwise
direction of the clipping pieces. Additionally, since the
first and second restricting portions are disposed at different
positions in the lengthwise direction of the clipping pieces,
the split ring spring can be easily inserted into the spring
bearing pieces. In this manner, the split ring spring is fixed
by the stop portion and the first and second restricting
portions of each spring bearing piece, so as to be prevented
from shifting in the widthwise direction and coming off from
the spring bearing pieces.
The above and further objects and features of the
invention will more fully be apparent from the following
detailed description with accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view for showing the structure of a
conventional hanger;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view for showing the structure of
a hanger of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a front view for showing the structure of the
hanger of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a front view for showing the structure of a
hanging member of the hanger of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a front view for showing the structure of a
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suspending member of the hanger of the invention;
FIG. 6 is a right side view for showing the structure of
the suspending member of the hanger of the invention;
FIG. 7 is a rear side view for showing the structure of
the suspending member of the hanger of the invention;
FIG. 8 is a plan view for showing the structure of the
suspending member of the hanger of the invention;
FIG. 9 is a bottom view for showing the structure of the
suspending member of the hanger of the invention;
FIG. 10 illustrates setting of the suspending member on
the hanging member;
FIG. 11 is a sectional view for showing engagement and
release between an engaging projection and a catching recess;
FIG. 12 is another sectional view for showing the
engagement and release between the engaging projection and the
catching recess;
FIG. 13 is a still another sectional view for showing the
engagement and release between the engaging projection and the
catching recess;
FIG. 14 is a still another sectional view for showing the
engagement and release between the engaging projection and the
catching recess;
FIG. 15 is a front view for showing the engagement and
release between the engaging projection and the catching
recess;
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FIG. 16 illustrates a procedure for hanging or removing a
sweater on or from the hanger of the invention;
FIG. 17 illustrates another procedure for hanging or
removing the sweater on or from the hanger;
5FIG. 18 illustrates still another procedure for hanging or
removing the sweater on or from the hanger;
FIG. 19 illustrates still another procedure for hanging or
removing the sweater on or from the hanger;
FIG. 20 is a front view for showing the structure of
10another suspending member according to the invention;
FIG. 21 is a perspective view for showing the structure of
the suspending member of FIG. 20;
FIG. 22 is a plan view for showing the structure of the
suspending member of FIG. 20;
15FIG. 23 is a left side view of the suspending member of
FIG. 20; and
FIG. 24 is a front view for showing a hanger, adopting the
suspending member of FIG. 20, in use.
20DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention will now be described with reference
to the accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments thereof.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view for showing the structure of
a hanger of the invention, and FIG. 3 is a front view thereof.
2~As is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the present hanger comprises a
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hanging member 1, which has a laterally extending rectangular
shape similarly to the hanging part of a conventional hanger,
and a suspending member 2 for catching and supporting the
hanging member 1. The suspending member 2 can be caught by and
released from the hanging member 1 by rotating the hanging
member 1 and is removable from the hanging member 1. With a
garment, that is, an object for hanging, hung on the hanging
member 1, a clothes-drying bar or the like is clipped with a
clipping part 21 provided at the upper end of the suspending
member 2, and thus the garment can be suspended.
FIG. 4 is a front view for showing the structure of the
hanging member 1. The hanging member 1 is made of a synthetic
resin such as polypropylene, and is integrally formed as a
frame having a predetermined thickness in the back-and-forth
direction. As is shown in FIG. 4, an upper hanging part 11,
that is, one side of the frame, is slightly bent upward at the
center so as to extend along a line between the neck and the
shoulder of a garment. In the upper hanging part 11, a first
catching portion 14, corresponding to the peak of its bent
shape, has a larger width in the vertical direction than both
end portions of the upper hanging part 11. The catching
portion 14 includes a catching recess 16 in a reverse U-shape
with its opening facing downward. A lower hanging part 12
opposing the upper hanging part 11 is formed in the shape of a
straight bar. Side parts 13, that is, second catching
14
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portions, opposing each other so as to link the upper hanging
part 11 with the lower hanging part 12, have a shorter length
than the upper hanging part 11 and the lower hanging part 12.
The neck and the shoulders of the garment are in contact with
and hung on the upper hanging part 11, and the lower hanging
part 12 can be used for hanging trousers, a towel or the like.
The lower hanging part 12 has upward projections 17 at its both
ends with a distance therebetween approximately equal to a
width of a skirt. For example, a skirt can be suspended by
catching the projections 17 with loops attached to the skirt.
FIG. 5 is a front view for showing the structure of the
suspending member 2, and FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are respectively a
right side view, a rear side view, a plan view and a bottom
view thereof. The suspending member 2 is made of a synthetic
resin such as polypropylene, and is integrally formed so as to
comprise a post 22 provided with the clipping part 21 at the
upper end thereof for clipping a clothes-drying bar or the like
and an engaging part 23 in a U-shape in a side view at the
lower end thereof. The engaging part 23 includes a support
plate 24, for supporting the hanging member 1, formed in a
vertically extending rectangular shape, in a front view, having
a given thickness in the back-and-forth direction. The upper
portion of the support plate 24 is bent by approximately 90
degrees in the forward direction. The lower end of the post 22
is fixed on a substantially center of the upper face of the
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support plate 24.
At the lower end of the support plate 24, an engaging
projection 25 having a reverse U-shaped section is proiected
forward. The engaging projection 25 is projected from the
front face of the support plate 24 by a distance larger than
the thickness of the hanging member 1, and has a height in the
longitudinal direction larger than the depth of the catching
recess 16 so as to be engaged with the catching recess 16. On
the lower peripheral face of the engaging projection 25,
rotation supporting pieces 26 are formed so as to be projected
in the rightward and leftward directions, respectively. The
front face of the engaging projection 25 is positioned at the
same level in the back-and-forth direction as the upper bent
portion of the support plate 24. The engaging projection 25 is
provided with a fastening rod 27 extending upward at the upper
portion of the front face thereof. The tip of the fastening
rod 27 is away from the upper tip of the support plate 24 by a
predetermined distance, thereby forming an insert opening 30.
The distance between the tip of the fastening rod 27 and the
tip of the support plate 24 is larger than the width at the top
of the catching portion 14, is substantially the same as the
thickness of the engaging projection 25, and is larger than the
thickness of the hanging member 1.
The clipping part 21 in substantially a lateral U-shape~5 includes, as is shown in FIG. 5, two clipping pieces with an
16
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opening facing rightward (or leftward), and its lower face
around the lower tip is fixed on the upper end of the post 22.
The clipping part 21 round out at substantially the center of
each clipping piece, and a plurality of grooves extending in
the back-and-fourth direction are formed on the inner face of
each round portion for preventing slip. The tip portions of
the clipping pieces are curved outward. Since the clipping
part 21 is formed in the U-shape out of a synthetic resin such
as polypropylene, it has a material elasticity so as to attain
flexibility in a direction to make the clipping pieces closer
to and farther from each other. Owing to this flexibility, the
clipping part 21 can be applied to various bars with different
diameters. In addition, on the outer face of the U-shaped
bottom of the clipping part 21, a U-shaped flat spring 29 of
steel in a shape that can be fit on the U-shaped bottom is
removably fit. After clipping a bar or the like with the
clipping part 21, the U-shaped flat spring 29 is externally fit
on the clipping part 21, thereby enforcing the clip of the
suspending member 2 on the bar.
The hanging member 1 is set on the suspending member 2 as
follows: FIG. 10 illustrate the setting of the hanging member
1. As is shown in FIG. 10, the center of the catching portion
14 is positioned at the insert opening 30 of the suspending
member 2, and the hanging member 1 is moved downward, as is
shown with arrowsl in a movement space defined by the support
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plate 24 and the fastening rod 27. When the hanging member 1
is removed from the suspending member 2, the procedures are
reversed.
Now, engagement and release between the engaging
projection 25 and the catching recess 16 will be described.
FIGS. 11 through 14 are sectional views for illustrating the
engagement and release between the engaging projection 25 and
the catching recess 16. FIG. 11 shows a state where the
catching recess 16 is engaged with and supported by the
engaging projection 25. The engaging projection 25 has a
section with an arc-shaped top portion and a trapezoid base
portion having a larger width toward the bottom, and similarly
the catching recess 16 has an arc-shaped bottom portion and a
trapezoid opening having a larger width toward the edge. Also,
as described above, since the height of the engaging projection
25 is larger than the depth of the catching recess 16, the
engaging projection 25 supports, at its top, the bottom of the
catching recess 16, with the edge of the catching recess 16 not
in contact with the rotation supporting pieces 26. In this
case, the hanging member 1 is supported with the upper hanging
part 11 and the lower hanging part 12 extending in the lateral
direction.
Such engagement between the engaging projection 25 and the
catching recess 16 can be released by rotating the hanging
member 1. When a small force is applied to one of the side
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parts 13, the hanging member 1 can be swung. When a downward
force is applied to the left side part 13, the hanging member 1
is rotated in the counterclockwise direction as is shown in
FIG. 12, so that the left edge of the catching recess 16 comes
in contact with the rotation supporting piece 26 of the
engaging projection 25. When the downward force is further
applied to the left side part 13, the catching recess 16 is
rotated in the counterclockwise direction with the rotation
supporting piece 16 as a fulcrum as is shown in FIG. 13, so
that the right edge of the catching recess 16 is moved beyond
the top of the engaging projection 25. When the catching
recess 16 is further rotated, the left edge of the projection
recess 16 is removed from the rotation supporting piece 26, so
that the hanging member 1 is moved downward in the movement
space as is shown in FIG. 14, and the right side part 13
catches the engaging projection 25. At this point, the hanging
member 1 is supported by the suspending member 2 with the short
side parts 13 positioned at the upper and lower ends. FIG. 15
illustrates a possible highest position of the hanging member 1
moved in the movement space. The fastening rod 27 has a
vertical dimension sufficient for the hanging member 1 to move
without coming off from the suspending member 2 when positioned
as shown in FIG. 15.
In returning the hanger from the state where the side part
13 catches the engaging projection 25 to the state where the
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hanging member 1 is supported to laterally extend as is shown
in FIG 11, an upward force is applied to the hanging member 1,
so that the upper hanging part 11 is slid on the peripheral
face of the engaging projection 25. When the catching recess
5 16 catches the engaging projection 25, the upward force is
released, and thus the catching recess 16 is engaged with the
engaging projection 25. When the hanging member 1 is moved
upward, there is no need to slide the upper hanging part 11 on
the engaging projection 25 but the hanging member 1 can be
moved to an extent that the hanging member 1 is not removed
from the suspending member 2. Furthermore, the hanging member
1 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in order to
release the engagement between the engaging projection 25 and
the catching recess 16 in the above description, but the
engagement can be released also through the clockwise rotation.
Now, specific usage of the present hanger will be
described. FIGS. 16 through 19 illustrate procedures for
hanging or removing a washed sweater on or from the present
hanger. As is shown in FIG. 16, a clothes-drying bar 3 is
clipped with the clipping part 21 of the suspending member 2
set on the hanging member 1, and the U-shaped flat spring 29 is
fit on the clipping part 21 so as to fix the hanger on the
clothes-drying bar 3. At this point, since the tip portions of
the clipping pieces of the clipping part 21 are curved outward,
the clothes-drying bar 3 can be easily guided to the center of
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the clipping part 21 even when the clothes-drying bar 3 has a
large diameter. The hanging member 1 is supported by the
suspending member 2 so as to extend in the lollgitudinal
direction. In order ts hang a sweater 4 on the hanging member
1, the side part 13 at the lowest end of the hanging member 1
is inserted through the neck, and the sweater 4 is moved
upward. At this point, the sweater 4, which has just been
washed, is heavy and tensionless, but the hanging member 1 can
be smoothly inserted through the neck because the side part 13
has a small width in the lateral direction. After the entire
hanging member 1 is inserted into the sweater 4, the sweater 4
and the hanging member 1 are together grasped with hands and
pushed upward, so that the upper hanging part 11 is slid on the
engaging projection 25 (See FIG. 17). Then, the movement of
the hanging member 1 is stopped when the catching recess 16 is
engaged with the engaging projection 25, and the hands are
removed from the hanging member 1. Thus, the hanging member 1
can be supported in a state shown in FIG. 18. The state where
the hanging member l is supported to extend in the longitudinal
direction can be retained without applying any force to the
hanger, and therefore, the operation for hanging a garment on
the hanger can be conducted by using both hands.
When the sweater 4 is removed from the hanger, the
procedures are reversed. Specifically, from the state shown in
FIG. 18, the right or left part of the hanging member 1 is
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pushed downward, so that the hanging member 1 is rotated,
thereby releasing the engagement between the catching recess 16
and the engaging projection 25. The hanging member 1 is moved
downward, the side part 13 catches the engaging projection 25,
and the hanging member 1 is supported by the suspending member
2 so as to extend in the longitudinal direction. After
attaining this state, the sweater 4 is moved downward~ so that
the hanging member 1 is pulled out through the neck.
Furthermore, the sweater 4 can be removed from the hanger
also by slightly pulling the neck of the sweater 4 in the
rightward or leftward direction as is shown in FIG. 19.
Specifically, the neck of the sweater 4 is pulled in, for
example, the leftward direction (or the rightward direction),
and a downward force is applied on the right portion of the
upper hanging part 11, so that the hanging member 1 is rotated
in the clockwise direction, thereby releasing the engagement
- between the catching recess 16 and the engaging projection 25.
Thereafter, the sweater 4 can be removed from the hanger in the
same manner as described above.
In this manner, since the side part 13 with a small width
of the hanging member 1 can be inserted through the neck, the
neck of the garment can be prevented from being stretched.
Also, since the shape of the hanger can be changed merely by
smoothly moving the hanging member 1, the object to be hung can
be hung on and removed from the hanger in a short period of
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time. Additionally, when the hanger is stored while suspended
on the clothes-drying bar 3, the space for the storage can be
prevented from expanding in the horizontal direction by
suspending the hanging member 1 in the longitudinal direction.
Furthermore, when the hanging member 1 is removed from the
suspending member 2 for storage, the hanger can be stored in a
small space.
In the above description, the hanging member 1 and the
suspending member 2 are made of a synthetic resin, but the
material for these members is not limited to the synthetic
resln but can be any material which is light and cannot rust
easlly.
Moreover, in the aforementioned embodiment, the side parts
13 of the hanging member 1 are linked with the both ends of the
upper hanging part 11. However, merely one of the ends of the
upper hanging part 11 can be provided with the side part 13.
Furthermore, in the embodiment, the U-shaped flat spring
having the shape to fit on the U-shaped bottom of the clipping
part 21 is externally fit on the clipping part 21 in hanging
the suspending member 2 on the clothes-drying bar, so that the
clothes-drying bar can be fixedly clipped by the clipping part
21, but this does not limit the invention. For example, the
suspending member 2 can be integrally formed so that the
clipping part 21 has a U-shaped bottom with a larger thickness
than the tip portions of the U-shape, thereby attaining the
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same effect resulting from the U-shaped flat spring 29 fit on
the clipping part 21 as is shown in FIG. 5.
In addition, in order to further enforce the fixation of
the suspending member 2 on the clothes-drying bar, the clipping
part 21 can be provided with the following structure: FIG. 20
is a front view for showing this other structure of the
suspending member, FIG. 21 is a perspective view thereof, FIG.
22 is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 23 is a left side view
thereof. In FIGS. 21 and 23, the engaging part 23 is omitted.
As is shown in FIGS. 20 through 23, the suspending member 2 is
integrally formed with the clipping part 21 having spring
bearing pieces 41, each having a substantially fan-shape in a
front view, projecting outward from the side face of each
clipping piece, and a split ring spring 28 is set on the spring
bearing pieces 41.
Each of the spring bearing pieces 41 has a stop portion
41a formed by projecting the curve portion of the clipping part
21 corresponding to the arc of the fan-shape, namely, the
concave curve portion formed toward the bottom of the U-shape,
from the outer face of each clipping piece, and also has first
and second restricting portions 41b and 41c each having a face
formed along the lengthwise direction of the clipping piece and
respectively projected forward and backward at different
positions in the lengthwise direction. The first ristricting
portion 41b of each spring bearing piece 41 is disposed closer
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to the center of the clipping part 21, and the second
ristricting portion 41c of each spring bearing piece 41 is
disposed closer to the U-shaped bottom of the clipping part 21.
The upper portions of the first and second ristricting portions
butt against and are integrated with the stop portion 41a.
Between the first ristricting portion 41b and the second
ristricting portion 41c, there is a space with a predetermined
length in the back-and-forth direction. Furthermore, the first
ristricting portion 41b of one of the two spring bearing pieces
41 is disposed on the rear face, and the first ristricting
portion 41b of the other spring bearing piece 41 is disposed on
the front face. Similarly, the second ristricting portion 41c
of the former spring bearing piece is disposed on the front
face and the second ristricting portion 41c of the latter
spring bearing piece is disposed on the rear face.
The split ring spring 28 is an elastic member formed by
bending a metallic wire material, which has a diameter
substantially the same as the space between the first and
second ristricting portions 41b and 41c, in a C-shape. With
the center of the ring spring 28 disposed along the U-shaped
bottom, the tip portions of the C-shaped ring spring 28 are
respectively inserted into the spaces in the spring bearing
pieces 41 so as to be in contact with the stop portions 41a.
Thus, the split ring spring 28 is supported by the spring
bearing pieces 41 so as to be fixed on the U-shaped bottom of
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the clipping part 21, thereby applying a force to the clipping
part 21 in a direction to make the clipping pieces closer to
each other. The remaining structure of this suspending member
2 is the same as that of the suspending member 2 shown in FIG.
2, and hence, like reference numerals are used to refer to like
elements in FIG. 20, and the description is omitted. Since the
positions of the first and second ristricting portions 41b and
41c are shifted in the lengthwise direction of the clipping
pieces, the split ring spring 28 can be inserted with ease.
Moreover, since the first and second ristricting portions 41b
and 41c of the respective spring bearing pieces 41 are disposed
on the different faces, i.e., one on the front face and the
other on the rear face, the restriction of the split ring
spring 28 in the widthwise direction of the clipping pieces can
be further enhanced.
When such a suspending member 2 is used to hang the
present hanger on a clothes-drying bar or the like, various
types of bars with different diameters can be used. FIG. 24 is
a front view for showing a state where the suspending member 2
provided with the split ring spring 28 is used to suspend the
hanger on a bar. The structure of the hanging member 1 and the
usage and the effect of the hanger are the same as those of the
hanger shown in FIG. 2, and hence, like reference numerals are
used to refer to like elements in FIG. 24 and the description
is omitted. As is shown in FIG. 24, in hanging the suspending
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member 2 on the bar 3, the bar 3 can be easily guided to the
center of the clipping part 21 even when the bar 3 has a large
diameter because the tip portions of the clipping pieces of the
clipping part 21 are curved outward. In addition, when the bar
3 is clipped, since the split ring spring 28 applies a strong
force to the clipping pieces of the clipping part 21 in the
direction to make the clipping pieces closer to each other, the
clipping part 21 can be strongly fixed on the bar 3 even when
the bar 3 has a small or large diameter. Furthermore, even
when the suspending member 2 is suspended on a bar 3 with a
small diameter after being suspended on a bar with a larger
diameter for a long period of time, the clipping force for
clipping the bar 3 with the small diameter cannot be weakened
because of the elasticity restoring force of the split ring
spring 28.
In this manner, in the present hanger, a hanging member
includes a plurality of catching portions, so as to
respectively catch an engaging part of a suspending member, and
hence, the position of a part having a small width of the
hanging member can be changed with ease. In addition, the
suspending member has a projection at the bottom center of the
engaging part and the hanging member has a recess which can be
engaged with and removed from the projection. Therefore, by
applying a small force to the hanging member, the position of
the part having the small width of the hanging member can be
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changed with ease. As a result, an object to be hung can be
smoothly hung on or removed from the hanger without spoiling
the shape of the objectJ and time required for hanging or
removing the object can be shortened.
As this invention may be embodied in several forms without
departing from the spirit of essential characteristics thereof,
the present embodiments are therefore illustrative and not
restrictiveJ since the scope of the invention is defined by the
appended claims rather than by the description preceding them,
and all changes that fall within metes and bounds of the
claims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds thereof are
therefore intended to be embraced by the claims.
