Clothes hanger having extension rods

Abstract

A clothes hanger may be configured with extension rods that are adapted to cause a lower portion of a garment hung on the hanger to be pulled tautly between the extension rods. The extension rods may be adapted to cooperate to impede wrinkling of a lower portion of the garment. The hanger may have a hook portion and a shoulder portion. The extension rods may be flexible and resilient, and may be coupled to the shoulder portion via respective torsion springs, or by a detent mechanism. The hanger may include a housing that contains the torsion springs or detent mechanism. At least one of the extension rods may be a telescoping rod. The rods may be hinged to the shoulder portion. The rods may be adapted to be folded up into the hanger to emulate the look of a conventional clothes hanger.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A clothes hanger, comprising:
 a hook;   a neck portion extending from the hook;   a first shoulder rod extending from the neck portion;   a first torsion spring disposed at an end of the first shoulder rod; and   a first extension rod extending from the first torsion spring.   
     
     
         2 . The clothes hanger of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second shoulder rod extending from the neck portion;   a second torsion spring disposed at an end of the second shoulder rod; and   a second extension rod extending from the second torsion spring.   
     
     
         3 . The clothes hanger of  claim 2 , wherein the first torsion spring is configured to produce a first tension on the first extension rod. 
     
     
         4 . The clothes hanger of  claim 3 , wherein the second torsion spring is configured to produce a second tension on the second extension rod. 
     
     
         5 . The clothes hanger of  claim 4 , wherein each of the extension rods is resilient. 
     
     
         6 . The clothes hanger of  claim 5 , wherein each of the extension rods extends at least two feet from a respective one of the torsion springs. 
     
     
         7 . The clothes hanger of  claim 5 , wherein respective distal ends of the extension rods are separated by at least 30 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The clothes hanger of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second torsion springs define a line, and wherein each of the extension rods forms a respective angle of about 22 to 28 degrees with the line defined by the torsion springs. 
     
     
         9 . A clothes hanger, comprising:
 a hook portion;   a shoulder portion coupled to the hook portion;   a first extension rod extending from the shoulder portion; and   a second extension rod extending from the shoulder portion;   wherein at least one of the extension rods is flexible and resilient.   
     
     
         10 . The clothes hanger of  claim 9 , wherein the hook portion extends from the shoulder portion in a first direction, and the each of the extension rods extends from the shoulder portion in a direction opposite the first direction. 
     
     
         11 . The clothes hanger of  claim 10 , wherein the extension rods are adapted to cause a lower portion of a garment hung on the shoulder portion of the clothes hanger to be pulled tautly between the extension rods. 
     
     
         12 . A clothes hanger, comprising:
 a shoulder portion having a first end portion and a second end portion disposed opposite the first end portion;   a first extension rod extending from the first end portion of the shoulder portion; and   a second extension rod extending from a second end portion of the shoulder portion;   wherein at least one of the extension rods is flexible and resilient.   
     
     
         13 . The clothes hanger of  claim 12 , wherein each of the extension rods is coupled to the shoulder portion via a respective torsion spring. 
     
     
         14 . The clothes hanger of  claim 13 , further comprising a housing that contains the torsion springs. 
     
     
         15 . The clothes hanger of  claim 12 , wherein each of the extension rods is a telescoping rod. 
     
     
         16 . The clothes hanger of  claim 15 , wherein the telescoping rods are hinged to the shoulder portion. 
     
     
         17 . The clothes hanger of  claim 12 , wherein each of the extension rods extends from the shoulder portion by at least two feet. 
     
     
         18 . The clothes hanger of  claim 12 , wherein the extension rods are configured to flex inwardly relative to one another. 
     
     
         19 . The clothes hanger of  claim 18 , wherein the extension rods are adapted to cause a lower portion of a garment hung on the shoulder portion of the clothes hanger to be pulled tautly between the extension rods. 
     
     
         20 . The clothes hanger of  claim 18 , wherein the extension rods are adapted to cooperate to impede wrinkling of a lower portion of a garment hung on the shoulder portion of the clothes hanger.