Expandable coat hanger

Abstract

An expandable clothes hanger. The hanger includes a first and second fixed arm attached to a hanging hook. A first telescoping arm selectively extends from the first fixed arm, while a second telescoping arm extends from the second fixed arm. A fixed pants bar connects the free ends of the first and second fixed arms. A telescoping pants bar connects the free ends of the first and second telescoping arms. Soft shoulder pads are preferably attached to the free end of each of the telescoping arms. A detent mechanism is preferably provided so that the hanger will stay in a state of expansion set by the user.

1 . An expandable hanger, comprising:
 a. a junction;   b. a first fixed arm connected to said junction, said first fixed arm having a free end extending away from said junction;   c. a second fixed arm connected to said junction, said second fixed arm having a free end extending away from said junction;   d. a first telescoping arm, having a first end and a second end, with said first end of said first telescoping arm being slidably received within said first fixed arm;   e. a second telescoping arm, having a first end and a second end, with said first end of said second telescoping arm being slidably received within said second fixed arm;   f. a first shoulder pad attached to said second end of said first telescoping arm, said first shoulder pad extending above said first telescoping arm;   g. a second shoulder pad attached to said second end of said second telescoping arm, said second shoulder pad extending above said second telescoping arm; and   h. a telescoping pants bar, having a first end and a second end, with said first end being attached to said first telescoping arm and said second end being attached to said second telescoping arm.   
     
     
         2 . An expandable hanger as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a first detent mechanism regulating the sliding action between said first telescoping arm and said first fixed arm. 
     
     
         3 . An expandable hanger as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a second detent mechanism regulating the sliding action between said second telescoping arm and said second fixed arm. 
     
     
         4 . An expandable hanger as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first detent mechanism comprises a ball plunger engaging one of a plurality of spaced reliefs. 
     
     
         5 . An expandable hanger as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said second detent mechanism comprises a ball plunger engaging one of a plurality of spaced reliefs. 
     
     
         6 . An expandable hanger as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a. said first fixed arm includes a dovetail channel;   b. said first telescoping arm includes a male dovetail portion configured to slide within said dovetail channel in said first fixed arm;   c. said second fixed ant includes a dovetail channel; and   d. said second telescoping arm includes a male dovetail portion configured to slide within said dovetail channel in said second fixed arm.   
     
     
         7 . An expandable hanger as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a. a first ball plunger located within said first fixed arm, with said first ball plunger extending into said dovetail channel in said first fixed arm;   b. a plurality of reliefs in said first telescoping arm, said plurality of reliefs being positioned to engage said first ball plunger;   c. a second ball plunger located within said second fixed arm, with said second ball plunger extending into said dovetail channel in said second fixed arm; and   d. a plurality of reliefs in said second telescoping arm, said plurality of reliefs being positioned to engage said second ball plunger.   
     
     
         8 . An expandable hanger as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a hook attached to said junction. 
     
     
         9 . An expandable hanger as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising a hook attached to said junction. 
     
     
         10 . An expandable hanger, comprising:
 a. a first fixed arm and a second fixed arm joined together, with said first fixed arm having a free end extending in a first direction and said second fixed arm having a free end extending in a direction opposite to said first direction;   b. a first telescoping arm slidably received within said first fixed arm, said first telescoping arm having a first end engaged within said first fixed arm and a second end;   c. a second telescoping arm slidably received within said second fixed arm, said second telescoping arm having a first end engaged within said second fixed arm and a second end;   d. said first telescoping arm having a first shoulder pad attached to said second end of said first telescoping arm, said first shoulder pad extending above said first telescoping arm; and   e. said second telescoping arm having a second shoulder pad attached to said second end of said second telescoping arm, said second shoulder pad extending above said second telescoping arm.   
     
     
         11 . An expandable hanger as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a first detent mechanism regulating the sliding action between said first telescoping arm and said first fixed arm. 
     
     
         12 . An expandable hanger as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a second detent mechanism regulating the sliding action between said second telescoping arm and said second fixed arm. 
     
     
         13 . An expandable hanger as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said first detent mechanism comprises a ball plunger engaging one of a plurality of spaced reliefs. 
     
     
         14 . An expandable hanger as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said second detent mechanism comprises a ball plunger engaging one of a plurality of spaced reliefs. 
     
     
         15 . An expandable hanger as recited in  claim 10 , wherein:
 a. said first fixed arm includes a dovetail channel;   b. said first telescoping arm includes a male dovetail portion configured to slide within said dovetail channel in said first fixed arm;   c. said second fixed arm includes a dovetail channel; and   d. said second telescoping arm includes a male dovetail portion configured to slide within said dovetail channel in said second fixed arm.   
     
     
         16 . An expandable hanger as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a. a first ball plunger located within said first fixed arm, with said first ball plunger extending into said dovetail channel in said first fixed arm;   b. a plurality of reliefs in said first telescoping arm, said plurality of reliefs being positioned to engage said first ball plunger;   c. a second ball plunger located within said second fixed arm, with said second ball plunger extending into said dovetail channel in said second fixed arm; and   d. a plurality of reliefs in said second telescoping arm, said plurality of reliefs being positioned to engage said second ball plunger.   
     
     
         17 . An expandable hanger as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a hook attached to said junction. 
     
     
         18 . An expandable hanger as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a hook attached to said junction. 
     
     
         19 . An expandable hanger as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a telescoping pants bar having a first end and a second end, with said first end being attached to said first telescoping arm and said second end being attached to said second telescoping arm. 
     
     
         20 . An expandable hanger as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising a telescoping pants bar having a first end and a second end, with said first end being attached to said first telescoping arm and said second end being attached to said second telescoping arm.