Compact garment hanger

Abstract

A hanger is provided which supports long garments securely and easily in half or less length than the garment would occupy hanging on a conventional hanger. Such a garment hanger comprises: a primary support including a hook and elements arranged to suspend a top portion of a garment; an auxiliary support including a bar for suspending the bottom portion of the garment, shortening a total length of the garment thus supported; and the primary support and the auxiliary support including cooperative, non-locking elements detachably suspending the auxiliary support from the primary support with the bar close to the primary support.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hanger comprising:
 a primary support including a hook and arm portions configured to support a first portion of a garment; and   a secondary support including a lower member configured to support a second portion of the garment and shorten a total length of the garment being supported by the primary support,   wherein the primary support and the secondary support include cooperative, non-locking interlocking elements that detachably connect the secondary support and the primary support.   
     
     
         2 . The hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the primary support includes an engaging projection, and the secondary support includes a loop portion configured to rest on the engaging projection to support the secondary support from the primary support. 
     
     
         3 . The hanger of  claim 2 , wherein the engaging projection extends transversely across a central portion of the primary support opposite the hook, and the loop portion of the secondary support is formed as a continuous ring configured to rest on the engaging projection while remaining readily detachable from the primary support. 
     
     
         4 . The hanger of  claim 2 , wherein the secondary support includes a projecting protrusion configured to rest on and engage the engaging projection of the primary support in a non-locking manner. 
     
     
         5 . The hanger of  claim 2 , wherein the engaging projection extends transversely across an upper portion of the primary support adjacent the hook and projects forwardly from the primary support to receive and support the secondary support. 
     
     
         6 . The hanger of  claim 5 , wherein a top portion of the secondary support includes a transversely extending flange or partial-loop section configured to rest on and engage the engaging projection of the primary support to support the secondary support from the primary support. 
     
     
         7 . The hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the primary support further includes shoulder-strap notches positioned adjacent the hook for retaining garment straps on the hanger. 
     
     
         8 . The hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the hanger is formed from molded plastic, polymer, or composite material. 
     
     
         9 . The hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary support comprises a detachable lower hanger portion formed as a continuous circular frame extending generally horizontally and shaped to align beneath the primary support. 
     
     
         10 . The hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary support includes a body portion having a bar extending substantially horizontally from a lower end of the body portion, the bar defining an opening formed between the bar and the body portion of the secondary support. 
     
     
         11 . The hanger of  claim 10 , wherein the bar includes a distal end portion comprising a lip formed as a protruding edge integrally formed at and extending upwardly from the distal end portion of the bar, the protruding edge defining a garment-engaging surface configured to engage and retain a portion of the garment on the bar. 
     
     
         12 . The hanger of  claim 10 , wherein the bar includes a distal end portion comprising a lip formed as a curved bend integrally formed at the distal end portion of the bar, the curved bend defining a garment-engaging surface extending upwardly relative to the bar. 
     
     
         13 . The hanger of  claim 10 , wherein the bar includes one of a covering or surface quality suitable for producing a friction assist to support a position of a portion of the garment on the bar. 
     
     
         14 . The hanger of  claim 10 , wherein the bar has an outer diameter dimensioned to engage the portion of the garment to resist garment movement along the bar. 
     
     
         15 . The hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary support includes a loop dependent from a top portion of the secondary support, the loop defining a gap through which the hook of the primary support passes, wherein the hook passes through the gap to support the secondary support from the primary support. 
     
     
         16 . The hanger of  claim 15 , wherein the loop includes a curved connector portion having an opening oriented toward the hook, and the loop is coupled to the secondary support to swing between front and back positions relative to the primary support. 
     
     
         17 . The hanger of  claim 15 , wherein the loop engages around the top portion of the primary support proximate to the hook to support the secondary support from the primary support while remaining readily detachable. 
     
     
         18 . The hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary support includes a pair of lateral arms extending outwardly from opposite sides of the secondary support, each lateral arm terminating in a curved end segment forming part of a continuous circular frame configured to align beneath the primary support. 
     
     
         19 . The hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary support includes an upper connector region integrally formed as an open-ended recess sized to receive a mating ridge of the primary support, the recess and ridge together defining a stabilized resting interface permitting detachment without mechanical locking. 
     
     
         20 . The hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the primary support and the secondary support are shaped to nest along complementary curved contours when assembled, forming a flush front surface across the primary support and the secondary support.