Sports Jersey Hanger and Display

Abstract

A hanger for mounting a jersey to a wall is disclosed. The hanger includes an elongated bar having a length sufficient to span a width of the shoulders of the jersey. The hanger further includes a mounting element for mounting the elongated bar horizontally with respect to the wall, the mounting element including a flexible clamp portion extending perpendicularly from a base portion. The clamp portion includes a C shaped member having an internal diameter and an opening, the internal diameter dimensioned to snugly receive the elongated bar, the opening being dimensioned to be less than the diameter of the elongated bar. The clamp portion is made of a material which is sufficiently flexible to permit the opening to enlarge when the diameter of the elongated bar is inserted through the opening and to return to its original shape after the elongated cylindrical bar has been inserted.

Therefore, what is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hanger for hanging and mounting a jersey having shoulder portions onto a wall or ceiling, the hanger comprising an elongated cylindrical bar having a length sufficient to span a width of the jersey extending between the shoulder portions, the elongated cylindrical bar having a cross sectional diameter, a mounting element for mounting the elongated cylindrical bar horizontally, the mounting element comprising a flexible and resilient clamp portion extending perpendicularly from a base portion, the clamp portion comprising a C shaped member having an internal diameter and an opening, the internal diameter dimensioned to snugly receive the elongated cylindrical bar, the opening being dimensioned to be less than the diameter of the elongated cylindrical bar, the clamp portion being sufficiently flexible to permit the opening to enlarge when the diameter of the elongated cylindrical bar is inserted through the opening, the clamp portion being sufficiently resilient to return to its original shape after the elongated cylindrical bar has been inserted into the internal diameter. 
     
     
         2 . The hanger as defined in  claim 1  wherein the base portion comprises a flat member configured to be mounted to a flat surface, the flat member including an aperture through which a mounting screw can be passed to secure the flat member to the wall, the aperture positioned on the flat member such that the aperture is covered over by the elongated cylindrical bar when the elongated cylindrical bar is mounted to the mounting element. 
     
     
         3 . A hanger for hanging and mounting a jersey onto a wall or ceiling, the jersey having elongated sleeve portions with ends, the hanger comprising an elongated cylindrical bar having a length sufficient to extend through the sleeve portions and extend slightly beyond the end portions, the elongated cylindrical bar having a cross sectional diameter, a mounting element for mounting the elongated cylindrical bar horizontally, the mounting element comprising a flexible and resilient clamp portion extending perpendicularly from a base portion, the clamp portion comprising a C shaped member having an internal diameter and an opening, the internal diameter dimensioned to snugly receive the elongated cylindrical bar, the opening being dimensioned to be less than the diameter of the elongated cylindrical bar, the clamp portion being sufficiently flexible to permit the opening to enlarge when the diameter of the elongated cylindrical bar is inserted through the opening, the clamp portion being sufficiently resilient to return to its original shape after the elongated cylindrical bar has been inserted into the internal diameter. 
     
     
         4 . The hanger as defined in  claim 3  wherein the base portion comprises a flat member configured to be mounted to a flat surface, the flat member including an aperture through which a mounting screw can be passed to secure the flat member to the wall, the aperture positioned on the flat member such that the aperture is covered over by the elongated cylindrical bar when the elongated cylindrical bar is mounted to the mounting element. 
     
     
         5 . A method of hanging a sports jersey onto a wall, the sports jersey having left and right shoulder portions, a collar portion and a width measured from the left and right shoulder portions, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a an elongated cylindrical bar having a length sufficient to span the width of the jersey, the elongated cylindrical bar having a cross sectional diameter;   b. providing a mounting element for mounting the elongated cylindrical bar horizontally with respect to the wall, the mounting element comprising a flexible and resilient clamp portion extending perpendicularly from a base portion, the clamp portion comprising a C shaped member having an internal diameter and an opening, the internal diameter dimensioned to snugly receive the elongated cylindrical bar, the opening being dimensioned to be less than the diameter of the elongated cylindrical bar, the clamp portion being sufficiently flexible to permit the opening to enlarge when the diameter of the elongated cylindrical bar is inserted through the opening, the clamp portion being sufficiently resilient to return to its original shape after the elongated cylindrical bar has been inserted into the internal diameter;   c. mounting the mounting element to the wall;   d. threading the elongated cylindrical bar through both right and left shoulder portions of the jersey such that the ends of the right and left shoulder portions are supported by the elongated cylindrical bar and a central portion of the elongated cylindrical bar at the collar is exposed;   e. then mounting the elongated cylindrical bar to the mounting element by urging the central portion of the elongated cylindrical bar through the opening of the C shaped member.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the jersey has elongated sleeves with ends and wherein the length of the elongated cylindrical bar is selected such that a portion of the elongated cylindrical bar extends beyond each of the ends of the sleeves when the elongated cylindrical bar is threaded in through the sleeves of the jersey.