Flexible trouser hanger

Abstract

A hanger having a first hook portion extending above a central body portion and has two arms extending laterally outward from the central body portion to distal ends. A locking bar has a first end and is secured along the first arm extending adjacent the first arm to a second end. Additionally, a support bar can be provided having a third end and secured along the first arm extending beneath the locking bar to a fourth end secured along the second arm. A latch is provided between the support bar and the locking bar, adjacent the second end of the locking bar. The locking bar deflects under the weight of the hung article to engage the latch and to secure the hung article between the locking bar and the support bar.

1 . A hanger comprising: 
 a first hook portion extending above a central body portion;    first and second arms, each extending laterally outward from the central body portion to a respective first and second distal end;    a first locking bar having a first end secured along the first arm and extending inward beneath the first arm to a second end; and    a first support bar having a third end secured along the first arm and extending beneath the first locking bar to a fourth end secured along the second arm.    
   
   
       2 . The hanger according to  claim 1 , further comprising a latch between the first locking bar and the first support bar, adjacent the second end of the first locking bar.  
   
   
       3 . The hanger according to  claim 2 , the latch comprising an upstanding web.  
   
   
       4 . The hanger according to  claim 3 , the latch further comprising a lateral cap at the top of the upstanding web.  
   
   
       5 . The hanger according to  claim 4 , wherein the locking bar has, at the second end thereof, a reduced width relative to at least one other point having a greater width along the length of the locking bar.  
   
   
       6 . The hanger according to  claim 5 , wherein the reduced width is no greater than approximately the distance between a side of the upstanding web and the lateral extent of the lateral cap.  
   
   
       7 . The hanger according to  claim 2 , wherein the latch is secured to the support bar.  
   
   
       8 . The hanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the width of the locking bar varies along its length.  
   
   
       9 . The hanger according to  claim 8 , wherein the locking bar has, at the second end thereof, a reduced width relative to at least one other point having a greater width along the length of the locking bar.  
   
   
       10 . The hanger according to  claim 9 , wherein the locking bar has a minimum width at the second end.  
   
   
       11 . The hanger according to  claim 8 , wherein the locking bar has one of a stepwise transition and a taper transition between the varied widths.  
   
   
       12 . The hanger according to  claim 1 , further comprising a raised surface rising above one of the first and second arms along a side of the central body portion.  
   
   
       13 . The hanger according to  claim 1 , further comprising a flange along the top surface of one of the first and second arms.  
   
   
       14 . The hanger according to  claim 13 , wherein the flange has a greater width in the region of the first or second distal end then in the region of the central body portion.  
   
   
       15 . The hangar according to  claim 1 , further comprising an injection molded plastic material.  
   
   
       16 . The hanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking bar is dimensioned to deflect to interface the supporting bar under a predetermined minimum force.  
   
   
       17 . The hanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the supporting bar and locking bar are dimensioned to support together a predetermined maximum force.  
   
   
       18 . A method for hanging a flexible article, the method comprising: 
 (a) providing a hanger having at least a hook portion, a support bar beneath the hook portion, a flexible locking bar between the support bar and the hook portion, the flexible locking bar having a free end, and a latch between the support bar and the flexible locking bar adjacent the free end of the flexible locking bar;    (b) folding the flexible article over itself at least once;    (c) positioning one side of the folded article to extend from the space between the locking bar and the support bar to a first side of the support bar;    (d) positioning another side of the folded article to extend from the space above the locking bar to the first side of the support bar;    (e) positioning the free end of the flexible locking bar locking bar adjacent the latch on a second side of the support bar, opposite the first side;    (f) allowing the weight of the article to deflect the locking bar into engagement with the support, and to deflect the free end of the flexible locking bar into engagement with the latch, thereby securing the side of the folded article.    
   
   
       19 . The method for hanging a flexible article according to  claim 18 , further comprising suspending the hanger from a support by the hook portion.  
   
   
       20 . A hanger comprising: 
 a first hook portion extending above a central body portion;    first and second arms, each extending laterally outward from the central body portion to a respective first and second distal end;    a first locking bar having a first end secured distally along the first arm and extending inward towards the central body portion beneath the first arm to a second end;    a first support bar having a third end secured distally along the first arm and extending inward towards the central body portion beneath the first locking bar to a fourth end; and    a second support bar having a fifth end secured distally along the second arm and extending inward towards the central body portion beneath the second arm to a sixth end.    
   
   
       21 . The hanger according to  claim 20 , further comprising a second locking bar having a seventh end secured distally along the second arm and extending inward towards the central body portion beneath the second arm and above the second support bar to an eighth end.  
   
   
       22 . The hanger according to  claim 20 , wherein the second end of the first locking bar extends further inward towards the central body portion than the fourth end of the first support bar.  
   
   
       23 . The hanger according to  claim 20 , wherein one of the fourth end of the first support bar and the sixth end of the second support bar is secured to the hanger.  
   
   
       24 . The hanger according to  claim 20 , wherein a lower surface of the first locking bar and an upper surface of the first support bar are provided with complementary profiles.  
   
   
       25 . The hanger according to  claim 20 , wherein the width of the first locking bar narrows from the first end to the second end.  
   
   
       26 . The hanger according to  claim 20 , wherein at least one of the first and second arms is swept downward.  
   
   
       27 . The hanger according to  claim 20 , wherein the first locking bar is swept upward, whereby the second end is above the first end.  
   
   
       28 . The hanger according to  claim 20 , wherein at least one of the first and second support bars is swept upward, whereby the fourth or sixth end is above the third or fifth end, respectively.  
   
   
       29 . The hanger according to  claim 20 , further comprising an inclined edge rising above one of the first and second arms along a side of the central body portion.  
   
   
       30 . The hanger according to  claim 20 , further comprising a recess formed in a top surface of one of the first and second arms.  
   
   
       31 . The hanger according to  claim 20 , further comprising a flange along the top surface of one of the first and second arms.  
   
   
       32 . The hanger according to  claim 31 , wherein the flange has a greater width in the region of the first or second distal end then in the region of the central body portion.  
   
   
       33 . The hanger according to  claim 20 , further comprising a second hook extending beneath the first or second arm.  
   
   
       34 . The hangar according to  claim 20 , further comprising an injection molded plastic material.  
   
   
       35 . The hangar according to  claim 20 , wherein the second end of the first locking bar extends at least to the sixth end of the second support bar and above the second support bar.  
   
   
       36 . A hanger comprising: 
 a first hook portion extending above a central body portion;    first and second arms, each extending laterally outward from the central body portion to a respective first and second distal end;    a first locking bar having a first end secured along the first arm and extending inward toward the central body portion and beneath the first arm to a second end; and    a first support bar having a third end secured along the second arm and extending inward towards the central body portion at least to the first end of the first locking bar and beneath the first locking bar to a fourth end.    
   
   
       37 . The hanger according to  claim 36 , wherein the locking bar is dimensioned to deflect to interface the supporting bar under a predetermined minimum force.  
   
   
       38 . The hanger according to  claim 36 , wherein the supporting bar and locking bar are dimensioned to support together a predetermined maximum force.  
   
   
       39 . The hanger according to  claim 36 , wherein a lower surface of the locking bar and an upper surface of the first support bar are provided with complementary profiles.  
   
   
       40 . A hanger comprising: 
 a first hook portion extending above a central body portion;    a first arm extending laterally outward from the central body portion to a first distal end;    a first locking bar having a first fixed end secured along the first arm and extending inward beyond a midpoint of the hanger and beneath the first arm to a first free end; and    a first support bar having a second fixed end secured along the first arm and extending inward beyond a midpoint of the hanger and beneath the first locking bar to a second free end.    
   
   
       41 . The hanger according to  claim 40  wherein the locking bar is dimensioned to deflect to interface the supporting bar under a predetermined minimum force.  
   
   
       42 . The hanger according to  claim 40 , wherein the supporting bar and locking bar are dimensioned to support together a predetermined maximum force.  
   
   
       43 . The hanger according to  claim 40 , wherein a lower surface of the locking bar and an upper surface of the first support bar are provided with complementary profiles.  
   
   
       44 . A hanger comprising: 
 a first hook portion extending above a central body portion;    first and second arms, each extending laterally outward from the central body portion to respective first and second distal ends; and    a first locking bar having a first end secured to the hanger and extending adjacent the first arm to a second end, wherein the first locking bar is dimensioned to deflect to interface a support under a predetermined minimum force.    
   
   
       45 . The hanger according to  claim 44 , further comprising a second locking bar having a third end secured to the hanger and extending adjacent the second arm to a fourth end, wherein the second locking bar is dimensioned to deflect to interface a support under a predetermined minimum force.  
   
   
       46 . The hanger according to  claim 44 , wherein the support comprises one of the first arm, and a first support bar having a fifth end secured to the hanger and extending adjacent the first locking bar to a sixth end.  
   
   
       47 . The hanger according to  claim 44 , wherein the first locking bar is positioned above the first arm.  
   
   
       48 . A method for hanging a flexible article, the method comprising: 
 (a) providing a hanger having at least a hook portion, a support beneath the hook portion and a flexible locking bar between the support and the hook portion;    (b) folding the flexible article over itself at least once;    (c) positioning one side of the folded article between the locking bar and the support;    (d) positioning another side of the folded article above the locking bar; and    (e) allowing the weight of the article to deflect the locking bar into engagement with the support, thereby securing the side of the folded article located therebetween.    
   
   
       49 . The method for hanging a flexible article according to  claim 48 , further comprising suspending the hanger from a support by the hook portion.  
   
   
       50 . The method for hanging a flexible article according to  claim 48 , wherein a lower surface of the locking bar and an upper surface of the support are provided with complementary profiles.