Bottom Mount Hanger

Abstract

This invention relates to the clothing industry and, particularly to garment hangers and, more particularly, to molded plastic hangers with improved clothes clip having a relocated biasing force for the bottom of the plastic hanger. Further, this invention relates to an improved spring clip, particularly though not exclusively for providing a biasing force in the improved clothes clip of this invention for the suspending of clothes (e.g. trousers and skirts) during shipment or for display or storage. Further, application of the biasing force in the basic form of a U-shaped spring to the handle legs to hold the legs normally open during use, and therefore the gripping faces normally closed, allows the application of sufficient force to the gripping faces of the clip more efficiently allowing greater force at rest with less susceptibility to fatigue. Finally, the indented shape of one of the legs of the U-shaped spring allows the spring to open about the pivot of the hanger clip, thereby preventing binding when operated. Adding a ridge to the opposite leg allows retention of the spring in the clothes clip without require undue design features in the molding of the clip.

1 . A clothes clip for securing clothes to a garment hanger, wherein the clothes clip consists of
 a first gripping member attached to a depending edge of the garment hanger,   a second gripping member pivotally mounted on the first gripping member, the second gripping member having a pin about which each of the gripping members pivot, and   a U-shaped spring biasing the gripping members, the U-shaped spring having an outer surface, an inner surface and a base,   wherein each of the gripping members has a gripping end and a top end,   wherein the legs to the U-shaped spring includes a bend offset from the base of the U-shaped spring, and   wherein the U-shaped spring is situated between the first gripping member and the second gripping member such that the outside surface of the the U-shaped spring contacts the pin at the bend.   
   
   
       2 . A clothes clip according to  claim 1 , wherein the bend is oriented about the same axis as the pin. 
   
   
       3 . A clothes clip according to  claim 1 , wherein the U-shaped spring exerts force on the top ends of the gripping members,
 wherein the force of the spring maintains the top ends apart thereby holding the gripping faces ends together to grasp clothes securely, and   wherein pressure on the top ends of the gripping members momentarily overcomes the force of the symmetrical spring to separate the gripping ends for removal of the clothes.   
   
   
       4 . A clothes clip according to  claim 2 , wherein the U-shaped spring exerts force on the top ends of the gripping members,
 wherein the force of the spring maintains the top ends apart thereby holding the gripping ends together to grasp clothes securely, and   wherein pressure on the top ends of the gripping members momentarily overcomes the force of the symmetrical spring to separate the gripping ends for removal of the clothes.   
   
   
       5 . A clothes clip according to  claim 1 , wherein raised ridges are formed on the gripping ends and the ridges being offset from a respective ridge on a facing gripping end. 
   
   
       6 . A clothes clip for securing clothes to a garment hanger, wherein the clothes clip consists of
 a first gripping member attached to a depending edge of the garment hanger,   a second gripping member pivotally mounted on the first gripping member, the second gripping member having a pin about which each of the gripping members pivot, wherein each of the gripping members having a gripping end and a top end, and   a U-shaped spring having an outer surface, an inner surface and a base, wherein the U-shaped spring exerts force on the top ends of the gripping members, such that the force of the spring holds the top ends apart which maintains the gripping ends together to grasp clothes securely, and such that pressure on the top ends of the gripping members momentarily overcomes the force of the U-shaped spring to separate said gripping ends for removal of said clothes, and   wherein the U-shaped spring is situated between the first gripping member and the second gripping member such that the outside surface of the U-shaped spring contacts the   
   
   
       7 . A clothes clip according to  claim 6 , wherein the U-shaped spring includes a bend offset from the base of the U-shaped spring. 
   
   
       8 . A clothes clip according to  claim 7 , wherein the U-shaped spring being oriented about the same axis as the pin on the second gripping member about which the gripping members pivot with respect to each other. 
   
   
       9 . A clothes clip according to  claim 6 , wherein raised ridges are formed on the gripping ends and the ridges being offset from a respective ridge on a facing gripping end.