S-beam garment hanger

Abstract

This injection molded plastic garment hanger has a body part formed as a horizontal beam having a generally S-shape cross section, a hook at the top and optional spring clamps, hooks and projections on the beam for engaging, holding and supporting garments.

1 . An injection molded plastic garment hanger, comprising: 
 a. a hook having a top part, a stem extending downward from said top part and a bottom part, and    b. a body part formed as a generally horizontally extending beam having a central part and arms extending oppositely from said central part and terminating in opposite ends,    said bottom part of said hook being joined to said central part of said beam,    said beam's central part and arms comprising a web having upper and lower portions and extending lengthwise of said beam and extending downward from said hook,    said web in cross-section defining a generally S-shape comprising upper and lower portions thereof,    said web's upper portion having a top part which extends forwardly as a top front flange of said beam terminating in a font edge, and said web's lower portion having a bottom part which extends rearwardly as a bottom rear flange of said beam terminating in a rear edge.    
   
   
       2 . A garment hanger according to  claim 1  wherein said upper and lower portions of said S-shape define a set of continuous reverse curves.  
   
   
       3 . A garment hanger according to  claim 1  wherein said web further comprises a top rear flange extending rearwardly from said top portion of said web along the length thereof, and a bottom front flange extending frontwardly from said bottom portion of said web along the length thereof.  
   
   
       4 . A garment hanger according to  claim 3  wherein said top rear flange and said top front flange extend generally oppositely from each other, and said bottom front flange and said bottom rear flange extend generally oppositely from each other.  
   
   
       5 . A garment hanger according to  claim 3  wherein said web's upper portion forms a top foot with said top front and top rear flanges being top toe and heel elements of said top foot, and said lower portion forms a bottom foot with said bottom front and rear flanges being bottom toe and heel elements of said bottom foot.  
   
   
       6 . A garment hanger according to  claim 5  wherein said top toe and heel elements extend generally in a top plane and said bottom heel and toe elements extend generally in a bottom plane generally parallel to said top plane.  
   
   
       7 . A garment hanger according to  claim 3  wherein said top front and top rear flanges extend generally horizontally in a common top plane, and said bottom front and bottom rear flanges extend generally horizontally in a common bottom plane.  
   
   
       8 . A garment hanger according to  claim 1  wherein said web has a generally uniform thickness.  
   
   
       9 . A garment hanger according to  claim 4  wherein said web defines a central vertical plane extending lengthwise therethrough, and said front top and bottom flanges and said rear top and bottom flanges have front edges and rear edges respectively which extend forward and rearward respectively of said central vertical plane by generally equal distances.  
   
   
       10 . A garment hanger according to  claim 9  wherein said upper and lower curves of said S-shape extend forward and rearward of said central vertical plane generally by the same distance as said front and rear flanges extend.  
   
   
       11 . A hanger according to  claim 9  wherein said S-shape in cross section defines an area forward of said central vertical plane of said web that is substantially the same as the cross-sectional area rearward of said central vertical plane.  
   
   
       12 . A hanger according to  claim 1  wherein said garment hanger is a one piece injection molded product.  
   
   
       13 . A hanger according to  claim 1  wherein said S shape cross section has height to breadth ratio of about 2:1.  
   
   
       14 . An injection molded plastic garment hanger, comprising: 
 a. a hook having a top part, a stem extending downwardly from said top part and a bottom part, and    b. a body part formed as a beam extending transversely of said hook,    said beam having a central part and arms extending oppositely from said central part and terminating in opposite ends,    said bottom part of said hook being joined to said central part of said beam,    said beam's central part and arms comprising a web having upper and lower portions extending lengthwise of said beam and extending downward from said hook,    said web in cross-section defining a generally Z-shape comprising a stem, with upper and lower portions of said web forming respectively a top front flange extending forwardly and terminating in a front edge, and a bottom rear flange extending rearwardly and terminating in a rear edge.    
   
   
       15 . A garment hanger according to  claim 14  wherein said web in cross-section comprises a set of upper and lower Z-shapes, where each Z-shape has upper and lower generally horizontal feet, and where the lower foot of the upper Z-shape comprises the upper foot of the lower Z-shape, this common foot being an intermediate flange between said top front and bottom rear flanges.  
   
   
       16 . A garment hanger according to  claim 15  wherein said top front flange, bottom rear flange and intermediate flange have substantially the same thickness and depth.  
   
   
       17 . A hanger according to  claim 14  wherein said garment hanger is a one piece injection molded product.  
   
   
       18 . A hanger according to  claim 14  wherein said upper and lower Z shapes have essentially the same size and shape.  
   
   
       19 . A hanger according to  claim 14  wherein said web's cross section has height to breadth ratio of about 2:1.  
   
   
       20 . A hanger according to  claim 14  wherein said web's cross section has height to breadth ratio in the range of about 1.7 to 2.4.  
   
   
       21 . An injection molded plastic garment hanger comprising: 
 a. a hook having a top and bottom parts, and    b. a body part formed as a transversely extending beam having a central part and shoulder parts extending outward from said central part and terminating in opposite ends,    said bottom part of said hook being joined to said central part of said beam,    said shoulder parts situated at an elevation different from said central part,    said beam's central part and shoulder parts comprising a web extending lengthwise of said beam and extending downward from said hook,    said web in cross-section defining a generally S-shape comprising upper and lower portions thereof,    said web's upper portion having a top part which extends forwardly as a top front flange of said beam terminating in a front edge, and said web's lower portion having a bottom part which extends rearwardly as a bottom rear flange of said beam terminating in a rear edge.    
   
   
       22 . A hanger according to  claim 21  wherein said shoulder parts curve outward and downward from said central part.  
   
   
       23 . A hanger according to  claim 21  wherein shoulder parts are at an elevation above said central part.