BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to clothing hangers and to a system of clothing hangers in which the individual hangers are configured for use with different garment types.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the present invention, a clothing hanger includes a base member having a first arm having a first end and a second end, a second arm having a first end connected to the first end of the first arm and a second end, a third arm having a first end connected to the second end of the first arm and a second end connected to the second end of the second arm, a first mounting structure adjacent the first end of the first arm and the first end of the second arm, a second mounting structure adjacent the second end of the first arm and the first end of the third arm and a third mounting structure adjacent the second end of the second arm and the second end of the third arm. The first mounting structure includes a surface and a post extending from the surface. The second and third mounting structures each include an opening. The hanger further includes a hook having a mounting structure for engaging the first mounting structure of the base member and selectively securing the hook to the base member in multiple orientations with respect to the base member. The mounting structure of the hook includes a surface having an opening for receiving the post of the first mounting structure such that the hook is rotatable about the post. The hanger further includes a first arm member having a first end having a projection extending therefrom for engaging the opening in the second mounting structure to secure the first arm to the base member, and a second arm member having a first end having a projection extending therefrom for engaging the opening in the third mounting structure to secure the second arm to the base member.

In one embodiment, the hanger further includes an opening in the first arm member, a first support member having a projection for engaging the opening in the first arm member to secure the first support member to the first arm member, an opening in the second arm member, a second support member having a projection for engaging the opening in the second arm member to secure the second support member to the second arm member, an opening in the first support member, a first support cover member having a projection for engaging the opening in the first support member to secure the first support cover member to the first support member, an opening in the second support member, and a second support cover member having a projection for engaging the opening in the second support member to secure the second support cover member to the second support member.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a clothing hanger includes a base member having a first arm having a first end and a second end, a second arm having a first end connected to the first end of the first arm and a second end, and a third arm having a first end connected to the second end of the first arm and a second end connected to the second end of the second arm, a first mounting structure adjacent the first end of the first arm and the first end of the second arm, a second mounting structure adjacent the second end of the first arm and the first end of the third arm, and a third mounting structure adjacent the second end of the second arm and the second end of the third arm. The hanger further includes a hook having a mounting structure for engaging the first mounting structure of the base member and securing the hook to the base member. The hanger also includes a first arm member having a first end and a second end and a second arm member having a first end and a second end. The first end of the first arm member is configured to engage the second mounting structure of the base member to secure the first arm member to the base member and the first end of the second arm member is configured to engage the third mounting structure of the base member to secure the second arm member to the base member.

In one embodiment, the first mounting structure includes a surface having a post extending therefrom. In another embodiment, the mounting structure of the hook includes a surface having an opening for receiving the post of the first mounting structure. In certain embodiments, the post includes a retaining member. In other embodiments, the mounting structure of the hook has a first section having a first diameter and a second section having a second diameter differing from the first diameter and the second section receives the retaining member when the hook is connected to the base member. In one embodiment, the hook is rotatable about the post. In certain embodiments, the surface of the first mounting structure includes a projection and the mounting structure of the hook includes a recess for receiving the projection to resist rotation of the hook about the post. In other embodiments, the surface of the first mounting structure includes a plurality of projections and the mounting structure of the hook includes a plurality of recesses for receiving the projections to selectively position the hook in a plurality or orientations with respect to the base member.

In another embodiment, the second mounting structure of the base member includes an opening and the first end of the first arm member includes a projection for engaging the opening to connect the first arm member to the base member. In some embodiments, the second mounting structure and the projection for engaging the opening in the second mounting structure are configured so as to permit the first arm member to be connected to the base member in only one orientation. In other embodiments, the opening in the second mounting structure and the projection for engaging the opening in the second mounting structure are configured so as to prevent rotation of the first arm member when the first arm member is connected to the base member.

In another embodiment, the hanger further includes a rod having a first end with an opening therein and the second end of the first arm member includes a projection configured to engage the opening in the first end of the rod to secure the rod to the first arm member. In some embodiments, the opening in the rod and the projection for engaging the opening in the rod are configured so as to prevent rotation of the rod when the rod is connected to the first arm member.

In another embodiment, the hanger further includes an opening in the first arm member and a support member having a projection for engaging the opening in the first arm member to secure the support member to the first arm member. In certain embodiments, the hanger further includes an opening in the support member and a support cover member having a projection for engaging the opening in the support member to secure the support cover member to the support member.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a clothing hanger includes a base member, a first arm member, a second arm member, a first support member, a second support member, a first support cover member, a second support cover member and a hook. The hanger further includes first means for connecting the first arm member to the base member, second means for connecting the second arm member to the base member, third means for connecting the first support member to the first arm member, fourth means for connecting the second support member to the second arm member, fifth means for connecting the first support cover member to the first support member, sixth means for connecting the second support cover member to the second support member and seventh means for connecting the hook to the base member.

These and other features of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention and accompanying drawings.

