Asymmetric hanger for short and long trousers

Abstract

A method and device for hanging long or short pants or any other similar articles of clothing that contains a waistband are disclosed. The device, an asymmetric hanger, hangs folded pants from the waist and is composed of a finger adapted to insert into the top of a pair of trousers engaging the inside of the waistband along with a clamp that clasps the waistband from the outside near the opposite end of the folded pants and that exerts a force away from the finger. The device can be adapted to hang pants from a simple clothes pole to a variety of novel designs that display pants and facilitate removal or hanging.

1 . A hanger for trousers having a waistband extending along the top edge of the trousers, said hanger comprising:
 a. a rigid elongated, generally horizontal support, adapted to hang from a clothes rod, a door, a wall, a pedestal, or a piece of furniture, said support having a first end and a second end;   b. a finger depending generally vertically from said support adjacent one end thereof, said finger adapted to be inserted into the top of a trouser and to engage the inside of said waistband; and   c. a clamp having a pair of jaws biased toward one another and adapted to clamp the outside of said waistband, said jaws depending vertically from said support remotely from said finger.   
     
     
         2 . A hanger according to  claim 1 , wherein said clamp is adjustable on said elongated support to apply tension to the waistband. 
     
     
         3 . A hanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the distal part of said finger has a crook, said crook protruding away from said clamp and adapted to engage the trouser below the waistband. 
     
     
         4 . A hanger according to  claim 1 , further comprising a hanging element, wherein said hanging element is attached to said elongated support. 
     
     
         5 . A hanger according to  claim 4 , wherein said hanging element is affixed to said elongated support intermediate said first and second ends and configured for hanging on a horizontal clothes rod. 
     
     
         6 . A hanger according to  claim 4 , wherein said hanging element is door- or wall-mounted. 
     
     
         7 . A hanger according to  claim 6 , wherein said door- or wall-mounted hanging element is a tubular member that receives said elongated support, said elongated support being adjustable between a retracted and extended position within said tubular member. 
     
     
         8 . A device for hanging a pair of pants comprising:
 (a) a means for clasping the front of said pants, and   (b) a means for exerting pressure to the rear of said pants at the waistband;   wherein said pants are held in tension while maintained in a folded arrangement.   
     
     
         9 . A hanger assembly comprising a multiplicity of hangers according to  claim 1 , said hangers being mounted on a series of vertical post disposed in a base member in spaced apart relationship to each other, thereby forming an array of said hangers. 
     
     
         10 . The hanger assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said vertical posts are of varying height. 
     
     
         11 . The hanger assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said vertical posts are rotatable in said base member. 
     
     
         12 . A method of hanging a folded article of clothing comprising a waistband using a hanger:
 engaging said waistband with a first portion of said hanger on the interior thereof at a first folded location of said article;   placing said waistband under at least minimal tension by exerting a force away from said first folded location and said first portion of the hanger;   clasping said article with a second portion of the hanger at a second folded location opposite said first folded location while said waistband is under the at least minimal tension; and suspending said hanger and said article of clothing from a support surface by a third portion of said hanger.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said waistband is maintained under at least minimal tension while suspending said hanger and said article of clothing. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said waistband is maintained substantially horizontally while suspending said hanger and said article of clothing.