US 4,813,581 A · Unitary collapsible coat hanger

Abstract

A collapsible coat hanger formed of plastic includes a hook supported by a body member having right and left hanger arms attached thereto by hinges. The body includes a stop member and outer stop shoulders. Right and left symmetrical hinged locking arms are connected by hinges to inner surfaces of the left and right hanger arms and are connected together at their upper inner edges by a center hinge. Each locking bar has an upper boss with a perpendicular bearing surface. The ends of a C-shaped integral spring are attached to the left and right locking arms, respectively, by hinges on either side of the center hinge. When the hanger is collapsed, the spring is in its relaxed configuration, and the center hinge is below the spring hinges. When the hanger is in its open configuration, the center hinge is above the spring hinges and engages the stop member. The bearing surfaces engage shoulders of the stop member, locking the hanger in its open configuration.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A hanger having an opened or erected configuration for supporting garments and a collapsed configuration, the hanger comprising in combination:

(a) a hook;
(b) a body attached to the hook;
(c) left and right support arms each having an outer surface for supporting a garment and an inner surface, and a first hinge, connecting a left edge of the body to an inner end of the left support arm, and a second hinge connecting a right edge of the body to an inner end of the right support arm;
(d) left and right locking arms each having an inner end connected by means of a third hinge to the inner end of the other, an outer end of the left locking arm being connected by a fourth hinge to the inner surface of the left support arm, an outer end of the right locking arm being connected by a fifth hinge to the inner surface of the right support arm;
(e) a C-shaped spring that has a left end connected by a sixth hinge to an intermediate portion of the left support arm and a right end connected by means of a seventh hinge to an intermediate portion of the right locking arm;
and
(f) frame stop means attached to the body for limiting upward pivoting of the left and right locking arms as the left and right support arms extend outward.

4 more elements

A hanger having an opened or erected configuration for supporting garments and a collapsed configuration, the hanger comprising in combination:

(a) a hook;
(b) a body attached to the hook;
(c) left and right support arms each having an outer surface for supporting a garment and an inner surface, and a first hinge connecting a left edge of the body to an inner end of the left support arm, and a second hinge connecting a right edge of the body to an inner end of the right support arm;
(d) left and right trouser bars each having an inner end connected by means of a third hinge to the inner end of the other, an outer end of the left trouser bar being connected by a fourth hinge to the inner surface of the left support arm, an outer end of the right trouser bar being connected by a fifth hinge to the inner surface of the right support arm;
(e) a C-shaped spring that has a left end connected by a sixth hinge to a fixed point of the left trouser bar and a right end connected by means of a seventh hinge to a second point of the right trouser bar;
and
(f) a first force bearing surface on the right end of the left trouser bar and a second force bearing surface on the left end of the right trouser bar, the first and second force bearing surfaces abutting to limit downward pivoting of the first and second trouser bars when the hanger is in its erected configuration.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Unitary collapsible coat hanger

Life of this patent

Unitary collapsible coat hanger

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12