Apparel apparatus – Garment hangers – Coat or dress
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-18
2001-09-11
Mohanty, Bibhu (Department: 3741)
Apparel apparatus
Garment hangers
Coat or dress
C223S096000, C223S091000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286734
ABSTRACT:
The invention is relative to a clothes hanger with a pants holding device.
Such a clothes hanger is known from U.S. Pat. No. 1,206,348. The clothes hanger of this publication comprises a shoulder contour part with a hook. The shoulder contour part serves to receive a jacket or a similar piece of clothing. A crosspiece is clamped between the arms of the shoulder contour part across which crosspiece a pair of pants can be hung. In order to prevent the pants from sliding off unintentionally a spring element is provided which also extends between the arms of the shoulder contour part and runs approximately parallel to the crosspiece. The spring element is flexibly designed and can move back and forth between a clamping position holding the pants and a release position. The ends of the spring element are received in bearing openings with a polygonal cross section on the arms of the shoulder contour part.
This clothes hanger has the disadvantage that a given release position and clamping position of the spring element can not be reliably maintained over time. Conditioned by the cross-sectional form of the bearing opening, an end section of the spring element is supported by a side surface in the release position on an upper outer edge of the bearing opening but in the clamping position on the opposite lower outer edge of the bearing opening. When being moved from one position to the other position and during the snap movement associated therewith the flexible spring element first rotates about the support point on the particular outer edge of bearing opening until the spring element has been bent so far that it automatically jumps into the new position. During the change of position the spring element strikes the opposite outer edge of the bearing opening. This strain results in increased wear to the point where it loses its ability to function.
On account of the bending the spring element has a high internal tension which can result in an uncontrolled, sudden snapping back during the adjustment of the spring element from the release position to the clamping position. This too can result in the inability of the pants holding device to function and also involves the danger of injury.
The invention is based on the problem of developing the pants holding device with simple means so that it functions reliably and permanently, of reliably holding the spring element in the clamping position and in the release position and of making it possible to move the spring element from one position to the other position without problems; in addition, the possibility should be created of providing clothes hangers with simple means with a pants holding device.
This problem is solved in accordance with the invention with the features of claim
1
,
16
and
23
.
A defined, controlled movement of the spring element during the passage from one position to the other is given by the essentially stationary axis of rotation. The bearing and the particular end of the spring element form an articulation without further components being necessary.
The axis of rotation is purposefully located directly on the bearing bottom and as a result the support point and the point of rotation coincide.
According to an advantageous embodiment the ends of the spring element rest in both positions on the bearing side surfaces of a V-shaped bearing engagement opening. The V-shaped design of the bearing makes it possible to adjust with simple means the aperture angle as a function of the structural conditions. Depending on the length of the spring element, the nature of the material and the distance of the spring element from the crosspiece, an aperture angle can be selected by the selection of the bearing which angle permits a deflection of varying intensity of the spring element from the ideal line with a distribution of tension adapted appropriately to the material, the geometry and the function. An uncontrolled changing between the two positions is avoided because the bearing side surfaces support the ends of the spring element and contribute in this manner to stabilization.
An aperture angle of approximately 20° to 80° has proven to be advantageous; the ends of the spring element rest in a stable manner on the bearing side surfaces within this angular range.
A groove can be provided on the bearing bottom into which groove the ends of the spring element are received. The ends of the spring element can be clamped into the groove, especially if the cross section of the groove is adapted to the cross section of the spring element; the possibility of the spring element moving between the two defined positions is not limited thereby. The spring element is prevented from coming loose out of the bearing in an unintentional manner.
Another advantageous development provides that the engagement opening has a rounded, especially a circular or partially circular cross section with a cross-sectional axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the spring element. A curved end of the spring element can be suspended in this opening, which curved end forms the bearing axis.
The spring element advantageously consists of a spring band steel such as, e.g., high-grade steel and is continuous, thus, without interruption and advantageously without a kink and preferably has a constant cross section over its entire length. This standard structural component is economical and functions reliably.
The problem on which the invention is based can also be solved in that a centrally arranged, reinforced holding middle piece [middle holding piece] is provided on the spring element which middle piece has a greater bending resistance than the spring element. The holding middle piece contributes to stabilization in both positions and, in addition, assumes ergonomic functions. The holding middle piece effects a stiffening of the spring element in the middle range which prevents a corrugated forming of the spring element, especially during the passage from the release position into the end position and inversely, and also prevents other stable but undesired positions. In the clamping position the spring element rests areally on the crosspiece in the area of the holding middle piece and exerts a uniform pressure over the length of the holding middle piece on the pants to be clamped fast. A punctual loading, which can lead to a sliding of the pants, is avoided.
The holding middle piece can be provided with a finger catch [catch area, engagement area] for reliable and comfortable manipulation in order to simplify the moving from one position to the other. Furthermore, a middle recess can be present on the side facing the crosspiece in order to leave room for thick seams of the pants handing over the crosspiece.
In order to equip clothes hangers with simple means with a pants holding device it is provided that the cross piece and the spring element can be designed as an independent pants holding module. The pants holding module can be manufactured independently of the clothes hanger and subsequently mounted on the clothes hanger. The clothes hanger can be subsequently provided with the pants holding module or also be equipped with a connecting unit for the pants holding module during the manufacture already.
The crosspiece is advantageously manufactured either from plastic or from metal. In the case of a crosspiece manufactured from plastic the bearings provided for holding the spring band purposefully consist of plastic and are injected into the crosspiece. In the case of a crosspiece manufactured from metal the bearings are designed as independent plastic bearings which can be inserted into punched-out openings in the crosspiece.
The connection between the clothes hanger and the pants holding module preferably takes place by means of the engagement of the ends of the crosspiece into slots fashioned on the bottom of the arms of the shoulder contour part. The ends of the crosspiece are preferably designed in the form of shanks to this end and stand vertically in relation to the longitudinal axis of the crosspiece, that is, they face upward and
Knuth Randall J.
Mohanty Bibhu
LandOfFree
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