Collapsible garment hanger

Abstract

A collapsible garment hanger includes a means for supporting a garment, an actuator configured to facilitate a movement of the means for supporting the garment between an extended position and a collapsed position, and an attachment member configured to cooperate with a support structure. The means for supporting the garment includes a pair of flexible arms having a desired spring rate to facilitate an unassisted return of the arms from the collapsed position to the extended position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collapsible garment hanger, comprising:
 a means for supporting a garment which is selectively positionable between an extended position and a collapsed position; and   an actuator configured to receive at least a portion of the means for supporting the garment therein, wherein the actuator facilitates a movement of the means for supporting the garment between the extended position and the collapsed position.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible garment hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the means for supporting the garment is in the extended position when the actuator is positioned in a first position, and is in the collapsed position when the actuator is positioned in a second position. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible garment hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the means for supporting the garment includes a plurality of arms configured to support the garment. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible garment hanger of  claim 3 , wherein the means for supporting the garment includes a generally loop-shaped portion having the arms extending laterally outwardly therefrom. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible garment hanger of  claim 3 , wherein the arms are offset from one another to permit at least a portion of the arms to crossover each other during operation of the hanger. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible garment hanger of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the arms is provided with an extension member to extend a length of the at least one of the arms. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible garment hanger of  claim 4 , wherein the generally loop-shaped portion is configured to provide a spring action which causes the arms to move from the collapsed position to the extended position. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible garment hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the means for supporting the garment includes an attachment member configured to cooperate with a support structure. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible garment hanger of  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the actuator includes at least one contour formed therein. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible garment hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a cavity formed therein, the cavity configured to receive at least a portion of the means for supporting the garment therein. 
     
     
         11 . The collapsible garment hanger of  claim 10 , wherein the cavity is formed by a first portion of the actuator coupled to a second portion thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The collapsible garment hanger of  claim 10 , wherein an inner surface of the cavity of the actuator is configured to maintain the actuator in a first position. 
     
     
         13 . A collapsible garment hanger, comprising:
 a means for supporting a garment including a plurality of arms selectively positionable between an extended position and a collapsed position; and   an actuator including a cavity formed therein, the cavity configured to receive at least a portion of each of the arms therein, wherein the actuator facilitates a movement of the arms between the extended position and the collapsed position.   
     
     
         14 . The collapsible garment hanger of  claim 13 , wherein the arms extend laterally outwardly from a generally loop-shaped portion of the means for supporting the garment. 
     
     
         15 . The collapsible garment hanger of  claim 13 , wherein the arms are offset from one another to permit at least a portion of the arms to crossover each other during operation of the hanger. 
     
     
         16 . A collapsible garment hanger, comprising:
 a means for supporting a garment including a plurality of arms extending laterally outwardly from a generally loop-shaped portion thereof, wherein the arms are selectively positionable between an extended position and a collapsed position; and   an actuator including a cavity formed therein, the cavity configured to receive at least a portion of each of the arms therein, wherein the actuator facilitates a movement of the arms between the extended position and the collapsed position.   
     
     
         17 . The collapsible garment hanger of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the arms includes at least one contour formed therein to militate against a disengagement of the actuator from the arms. 
     
     
         18 . The collapsible garment hanger of  claim 16 , wherein the generally loop-shaped portion is configured to provide a spring action which causes the arms to move from the collapsed position to the extended position. 
     
     
         19 . The collapsible garment hanger of  claim 16 , wherein an inner surface of the cavity includes at least one contour formed therein, the at least one contour configured to receive a portion of the generally loop-shaped portion of the means for supporting the garment therein. 
     
     
         20 . The collapsible garment hanger of  claim 16 , wherein an inner surface of the cavity includes at least one contour formed therein, the at least one contour configured to receive a generally arcuate portion of one of the arms.