Adjustable Garment Hangers

Abstract

This disclosure describes an adjustable garment hanger that consists of a center section, left and right shoulder sections, and zero or more spacers on each side. The top of the center section is where the hanger hook is connected. Each center section has two opposing center section ends and each center section end has an insertion channel. Each shoulder section has an insertion shaft that extends out in the direction of the center section. The insertion shaft can be inserted into the insertion channel at different depths, this achieving the goal of adjusting the shoulder width of the hanger. Additionally, there is a locking mechanism between the insertion shaft and the insert channel, which securely fastens the shoulder section to the center section. The spacers are used to cover up the gap between the center section and the shoulder sections when the shoulder sections are extended out at a certain insertion depth in relation to the center section. The locking mechanism is hidden on the inside of the hanger so that a user can't normally see it during its daily use. Additionally, there is a substantially contiguous surface across the center section, the shoulder sections and the spacers regardless of the insertion depths of the insertion shaft into the insertion channel. In another embodiment, the insertion shaft and the insertion channel are inversely associated with the center section and the shoulder sections. In this case, the insertion shaft is attached to each of the center section ends and the insertion channel is embedded in each of the shoulder section ends. The locking mechanism can still be the same. In yet another embodiment, the center section consists of a left and a right half. In yet another embodiment, the center section consists of a top and a bottom half.

1 ) An adjustable garment hanger system comprising:
 two shoulder sections, each having a shoulder section end; and   a center section having two opposing center section ends;   an insertion shaft associated with either the shoulder section end or the center section end, wherein the insertion shaft has a locking element; and   an insertion channel associated with the other of either the shoulder section end or the center section end, wherein the insertion channel has an engagement element and is configured to allow the mating insertion shaft to be removably inserted and wherein the engagement element of the insertion channel is configured to lockingly engage the locking element of the insertion shaft at one or more fixed depths of insertion and wherein the insertion shaft and the mating insertion channel together lockingly engage the shoulder section with the center section.   
     
     
         2 ) The adjustable garment hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement element of the insertion channel is configured to disengage with the locking element of the insertion shaft, whereby complete disengagement or re-engagement of the shoulder section from the center section can occur. 
     
     
         3 ) The adjustable garment hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the center section has a top, the top being rotatably configured to allow the center section to be suspended from a garment hanging apparatus. 
     
     
         4 ) The adjustable garment hanger of  claim 1 , wherein there are at least two or more fixed depths when the insertion shaft of the shoulder section is inserted into the mating insertion channel and the at least two or more fixed depths are configured to produce a linear increment between the center section end and the shoulder section end. 
     
     
         5 ) The adjustable garment hanger of  claim 4 , wherein the linear increment corresponds to a horizontal width increment between the two shoulder section ends. 
     
     
         6 ) The adjustable garment hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the locking element is a tooth and the engagement element is a pawl. 
     
     
         7 ) The adjustable garment hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the locking element is a key element and the engagement element is an opening in a keyway into which the key element is rotatably turned. 
     
     
         8 ) The adjustable garment hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the center section and the shoulder section have exterior surfaces congruent with their respective ends and wherein the exterior surfaces of the center section and the shoulder section end form a substantially contiguous exterior surface when the insertion shaft is completely inserted into and lockingly engaged with the mating insertion channel. 
     
     
         9 ) The adjustable garment hanger of  claim 1  wherein the center section and the shoulder section have exterior surfaces congruent with their respective ends and further comprising one or more spacers that are configured to be inserted over the insertion shaft, whereby a substantially contiguous surface between the exterior surfaces of the center section and the shoulder section is achieved when the insertion shaft is lockingly engaged with the mating insertion channel. 
     
     
         10 ) The adjustable garment hanger of  claim 9 , wherein the spacers are configured to mechanically engage with one another. 
     
     
         11 ) The adjustable garment hanger of  claim 9 , wherein the spacers are configured to mechanically engage with the center section. 
     
     
         12 ) The adjustable garment hanger of  claim 9 , wherein the spacers are configured to mechanically engage with the shoulder section ends. 
     
     
         13 ) The adjustable garment hanger of  claim 9 , wherein the spacers have variable lengths, the variable lengths being the multiples of the smallest linear increment. 
     
     
         14 ) The adjustable hanger of  claim 9 , wherein the center section ends further include one or more apertures configured to accept mating connection elements and wherein the shoulder section ends comprise one or more mating connection elements and wherein the spacer has a side facing the center section end and a side facing the shoulder section end and wherein the side facing the center section end also has one or more mating connector elements and wherein the side facing the shoulder section end also has one or more apertures wherein the apertures and the mating connection elements of the spacers are configured to mechanically engage with one or more of each other, the center section or the shoulder section. 
     
     
         15 ) The adjustable garment hanger of  claim 1 , further comprising a pants bar spanning between the two shoulder ends. 
     
     
         16 ) The adjustable garment hanger of  claim 19 , the pants bar being adjustable in length. 
     
     
         17 ) The adjustable garment hanger of  claim 19 , the pants bar being removable and re-attachable. 
     
     
         18 ) The adjustable garment hanger of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable scarf or tie bar on the center section. 
     
     
         19 ) The adjustable garment hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the center section comprises a left and a right half and wherein a hole is drilled into the left and right half to allow for the insertion channel to be inserted into the hole. 
     
     
         20 ) The adjustable garment hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the center section comprises a top and a bottom half and wherein the insertion channel is formed when the top and the bottom half form an enclosure.