Collapsible hanger

Abstract

A collapsible hanger has a pair of hanger arms for supporting an article of clothing. Each arm has a proximal end pivotally mounted on a frame. A gear mechanism engages gear teeth on the proximal end of the arms and causes the arms to simultaneously rotate between a raised position to a lowered position. A locking mechanism locks the arms in the raised position and when the locking mechanism is released, allows the arms to drop down to a collapsed position, releasing the article of clothing.

1 . A collapsible hanger comprising:
 a mounting frame;   a gear mechanism mounted on the frame;   a pair of hanger arms, each arm having a proximal end and a distal end;   pivot means mounted to the frame with the proximal end of each of the arms mounted on the pivot means for allowing the arms to rotate about the pivot means from a raised position to a lowered position; and   gear means on the proximal end of each of the hanger arms, the gear means operatively engaging the gear mechanism whereby movement of the gear mechanism simultaneously operates both gear means causing the arms to rotate simultaneously about the pivot means.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible hanger of  claim 1  and further comprising locking means for locking the arms in the raised position. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible hanger of  claim 2  wherein the pivot means comprise at least two pivot posts, with the proximal end of each arm mounted on one of the posts. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible hanger of  claim 2  wherein the locking means comprises a latch that engages the gear mechanism for allowing or prohibiting the gear mechanism to move thereby allowing the arms to rotate. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible hanger of  claim 4  wherein the latch locks the gear mechanism when the arms are in the raised position, and when the latch is released, the gear mechanism is released and the arms move to a lowered position by gravity applying a force to the arms. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible hanger of  claim 1  wherein the gear mechanism comprises a rack with gear teeth on the perimeter of the rack, and the gear means engages the gear teeth on the rack. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible hanger of  claim 6  wherein the gear means on each of the arms engage opposite sides of the rack, with the gear means on each of the hanger arms moving in synchronization with the movement of the rack. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible hanger of  claim 5  wherein the latch comprises a pair of flexible pivoting tabs, the tabs engaging a locking shoulder on the frame to keep the gear mechanism from moving when the arms are in the raised position, and disengaged from the shoulder thereby allowing the gear mechanism to move to allow the arms to rotate about the pivot means to the lowered position. 
     
     
         9 . A collapsible hanger comprising:
 a mounting frame;   a pair of hanger arms, each arm having a proximal end and a distal end;   pivot means mounted to the frame with the proximal end of each of the arms mounted on the pivot means for allowing the arms to rotate about the pivot means from a raised position to a lowered position;   gear teeth disposed around the proximal end of the hanger arms;   a rack with complementary teeth disposed about the rack which engage the gear teeth on the proximal ends of the arms in a driving relationship so that linear movement of the rack simultaneously engages and drives the gear teeth on the arms causing the arms to rotate simultaneously about the pivot means between the raised and lowered positions; and   a latching mechanism connected to the rack to lock the rack in place when the arms are in the raised position and means for releasing the latching mechanism for allowing the rack to move and the arms to be dropped to the lowered position.   
     
     
         10 . The collapsible hanger of  claim 9  wherein the pivot means comprise at least two pivot posts, with the proximal end of each arm mounted on one of the posts. 
     
     
         11 . The collapsible hanger of  claim 9  wherein the latching mechanism comprises a pair of flexible pivoting tabs, the tabs engaging a locking shoulder on the frame to keep the rack from movement when the arms are in the raised position, and disengaged from the shoulder thereby allowing the rack to move to allow the arms to rotate about the pivot means to the lowered position.