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 second shoulder rod extending from the neck portion;   a first torsion spring disposed at an end of the first shoulder rod;   a second torsion spring disposed at an end of the second shoulder rod;   a first extension rod extending at least two feet from the first torsion spring; and   a second extension rod extending at least two feet from the second torsion spring,   wherein the first and second torsion springs define a line, wherein each of the extension rods forms a respective angle of about 100 to 130 degrees with the line defined by the torsion springs, and wherein respective distal ends of the extension rods are separated by a distance of about two to three feet.   
     
     
         2 . The clothes hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first torsion spring is configured to produce a first tension on the first extension rod. 
     
     
         3 . The clothes hanger of  claim 2 , wherein the second torsion spring is configured to produce a second tension on the second extension rod. 
     
     
         4 . The clothes hanger of  claim 1 , wherein each of the extension rods is resilient. 
     
     
         5 . The clothes hanger of  claim 1 , wherein respective distal ends of the extension rods are separated by at least 30 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The clothes hanger of  claim 1 , wherein each of the extension rods forms a respective angle of about 110 to 120 degrees with the line defined by the torsion springs. 
     
     
         7 . The clothes hanger of  claim 1 , wherein each of the extension rods forms a respective angle of about 112 to 118 degrees with the line defined by the torsion springs. 
     
     
         8 . The clothes hanger of  claim 7 , wherein the respective distal ends of the extension rods are separated by at least 30 inches. 
     
     
         9 . A clothes hanger, comprising:
 a hook;   a neck portion extending from the hook;   a shoulder portion extending from the neck portion, the shoulder portion comprising a first torsion spring disposed at a first end of the shoulder portion and a second torsion spring disposed at a second end of the shoulder portion;   a first extension rod extending at least two feet from the first torsion spring; and   a second extension rod extending at least two feet from the second torsion spring,   wherein respective distal ends of the extension rods are separated by a distance of about two to three feet, and   wherein the extension rods are configured to flex inwardly relative to one another from a rest state, and when thereafter released, to return to the rest state.   
     
     
         10 . The clothes hanger of  claim 9 , 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. 
     
     
         11 . The clothes hanger of  claim 9 , 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. 
     
     
         12 . The clothes hanger of  claim 9 , wherein, when a garment is placed on the hanger, the lower portion of each extension rod is deformed in a slightly inward curve, and the lower portion of each rod abuts an associated interior, lateral side of the garment, whereby the resilience of the rods causes each rod to be forcibly pressed against the associated interior, lateral side of the garment, whereby the garment is pulled and stretched in a taut condition. 
     
     
         13 . The clothes hanger of  claim 12 , wherein, when the garment is hung on the hanger, the extension rods pull away from one another and thereby pull apart the sides of the lower portion of the garment. 
     
     
         14 . The clothes hanger of  claim 13 , wherein the extension rods cooperate to maintain the garment in a relatively planar condition. 
     
     
         15 . A clothes hanger, comprising:
 a hook;   a neck portion extending from the hook;   a shoulder portion extending from the neck portion, the shoulder portion comprising a first torsion spring disposed at a first end of the shoulder portion and a second torsion spring disposed at a second end of the shoulder portion;   a first extension rod extending at least two feet from the first torsion spring; and   a second extension rod extending at least two feet from the second torsion spring,   wherein the first and second torsion springs define a line, wherein each of the extension rods forms a respective angle of about 100 to 130 degrees with the line defined by the torsion springs.   
     
     
         16 . The clothes hanger of  claim 15 , wherein the extension rods are configured to flex inwardly relative to one another from a rest state, and when thereafter released, to return to the rest state. 
     
     
         17 . The clothes hanger of  claim 16 , wherein, when a garment is hung on the hanger, the garment having a lower portion, the lower portion of the garment having sides, the extension rods pull away from one another and thereby pull apart the sides of the lower portion of the garment. 
     
     
         18 . The clothes hanger of  claim 17 , wherein the extension rods cooperate to maintain the garment in a relatively planar condition. 
     
     
         19 . The clothes hanger of  claim 15 , wherein respective distal ends of the extension rods are separated by at least 30 inches. 
     
     
         20 . The clothes hanger of  claim 19 , wherein each of the extension rods forms a respective angle of about 112 to 118 degrees with the line defined by the torsion springs.