Clothes folding machine and clothes hanger

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for folding a shirt. More particularly, the apparatus includes a folding plate assembly that includes a center plate, which has a first and second lateral side, a first side plate, which is pivotably connected to the first lateral side of the center plate, and a second side plate, which is pivotably connected to the second side plate of the center plate. The apparatus is designed to fold a shirt when the shirt is placed on the folding plate assembly by folding the first and second side plates backwardly so that the respective side portions of the shirt are folded behind the shirt. A hanger is also provided for hanging a shirt. The hanger is sized and shaped to orient shoulder portions of the shirt so that the lower portion of the shirt expands in a laterally outward direction and thereby inhibits the formation of folds therein.

1 . A hanger for hanging a shirt having shoulder portions and a lower portion, comprising a hook; and a body depending from said hook for supporting the shirt therefrom, said body including laterally extending body sections for supporting the shoulder portions of the shirt when the shirt is hung from said body, said body sections being sized and shaped so as to orient the shoulder portions of the shirt such that the lower portion of the shirt expands in a laterally outward direction and thereby inhibits the formation of folds therein. 
     
     
         2 . A hanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said laterally extending body sections are sized and shaped so as to orient the shoulder portions of the shirt in a substantially horizontal manner. 
     
     
         3 . A hanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said laterally extending body sections are sized and shaped so as to lift the shoulder portions of the shirt such that the lower portion of the shirt expands in a laterally outward direction and thereby inhibits the formation of folds therein. 
     
     
         4 . A hanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said laterally extending body sections are substantially horizontal. 
     
     
         5 . A hanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said laterally extending body sections are sloped downwardly at an angle within the range of 0° to 15°. 
     
     
         6 . A hanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said laterally extending body sections has a length substantially equal to a length of a corresponding one of the shoulder sections of the shirt. 
     
     
         7 . In combination, a shirt having shoulder portions and a lower portion; and a hanger including a hook and a body depending from said hook, said shirt being hung from said body, said body including laterally extending body sections supporting said shoulder portions of said shirt and orienting said shoulder portions of said shirt such that said lower portion of said shirt expands in a laterally outward direction and thereby inhibits the formation of folds therein. 
     
     
         8 . The combination as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said laterally extending body sections are sized and shaped so as to orient said shoulder portions of said shirt in a substantially horizontal manner. 
     
     
         9 . The combination as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said laterally extending body sections are sized and shaped so as to lift said shoulder portions of said shirt such that said lower portion of said shirt expands in a laterally outward direction and thereby inhibits the formation of folds therein. 
     
     
         10 . The combination as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said laterally extending body sections are substantially horizontal. 
     
     
         11 . The combination as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said laterally extending body sections are sloped downwardly at an angle within the range of 0° to 15°. 
     
     
         12 . The combination as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein each of said laterally extending body sections has a length substantially equal to a length of a corresponding one of said shoulder sections of said shirt. 
     
     
         13 . Apparatus for folding a shirt having first and second shoulder portions, first and second side portions and a lower portion, comprising a folding plate assembly including a center plate, which has first and second lateral sides, a first side plate, which is pivotably connected to said first lateral side of said center plate so as to pivot backwardly from a first extended position to a first folded position, and a second side plate, which is pivotably connected to said second lateral side of said center plate so as to pivot backwardly from a second extended position to a second folded position, said folding plate assembly being sized and shaped such that when the shirt is placed over said folding plate assembly, said first and second side plates are substantially aligned with the first and second side portions, respectively, of the shirt, said first and second side plates causing the first and second side portions of the shirt to be folded behind the shirt when they pivot from said first and second extended positions, respectively, to said first and second folded positions, respectively, each of said first and second side plates having an upper edge which is substantially horizontal so as to orient a corresponding one of the first and second shoulder portions of the shirt such that the lower portion of the shirt expands in a laterally outward direction, thereby inhibiting the formation of folds in the lower portion of the shirt when the first and second side portions of the shirt are folded behind the shirt. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein each of said side plates includes a cutout formed to create a space for receiving one of a pair of lateral ends of a hanger placed in a receptacle of said center plate.