Foldable hanger for shoulder pads and trousers with a pushbutton

Abstract

A Foldable hanger for jackets and trousers provided with a push-button mechanism, consisting in a triangular structure hanger with a support body (1) with an upper hook (2) and two side arms (3) that close and open by activating a locking-unlocking device by means of a button (4) integrated into the support body itself, for anchoring in two positions: closed with arms down, or open with arms up; with the unique feature of incorporating an articulated crossbar (5) between the ends of the arms, which, when the arms are brought together, divides into two equal parts in an upward or downward movement by simply activating a latch on a folding device (8) located in its centre. The hanger has a specific arm design to interact with the anchoring mechanism and to collect the two divisions of the crossbar in an upward closing movement. Its main advantage is that, as it is a folding hanger with an anchoring button, it can also be used for trousers.

Description

[0001] The object of the present invention is a foldable hanger for jackets and trousers provided with a push-button mechanism, formed from a hanger of triangular structure comprising an upper hook and two lateral arms. Said arms are configured to be opened and closed by actuation of a lock-unlock device operable through a button integrated into the supporting body, allowing anchorage in two operative positions: a folded position, with the arms lowered, and a use position, with the arms raised.

[0002] The invention is characterised in that it further comprises an articulated crossbar arranged between the ends of the arms, which enables the hanger to be used for hanging trousers or any other garment capable of being folded or secured by clips on said crossbar. By virtue of a specific anchoring mechanism and component design, the crossbar is securely coupled to the arms of the hanger, or alternatively forms a continuation thereof during folding.

[0003] Said functionality of a foldable hanger with an incorporated crossbar is achieved by means of a tilting system of a cylindrical rod divided at its centre into two equal segments, configured to perform upward or downward movement upon actuation of a latch between two positions. The force exerted at both ends of the rod by the arms of the hanger during their closing movement is utilised, the latter being driven by a specifically designed push-button lock-unlock device which interacts with respective conical shafts of the arms. Furthermore, the arms are internally hollowed along their mutually facing sides so as to permit complete concealment of the two crossbar segments in the folded position.

[0004] The principal advantage of the foldable hanger with push-button mechanism according to the invention, in comparison with known hangers, is that while maintaining its collapsible functionality, it is also suitable for use with trousers, and not exclusively for jackets.TECNICAL FIELD.-

[0005] The technical field of application of the present invention relates to hangers for garments of the detachable type, and more particularly to foldable or collapsible hangers.STATE OF THE ART.-

[0006] Within the aforementioned technical field, various solutions for triangular hangers suitable for jackets and trousers, which can be manually folded or collapsed in order to facilitate the placement of garments on display or for storage, have been known for a long time.

[0007] Examples of such hangers are disclosed in Spanish utility models ES0020568-U "Percha plegable", ES0030989-U "Percha plegable perfeccionada", ES0037892-U "Nueva percha plegable", ES0053472-U "Percha articulada plegable", ES0060685-U, ES0102548-U, ES0107032-U, and ES0134573-U. These are very old documents, predating 1970, in which the corresponding hangers, designed mainly for travel, were extremely simple utensils, consisting of slats or segments articulated at their ends and provided with a hook either at one of the articulations or on an upper support, manually operated for folding and unfolding.

[0008] It should also be noted the Japanese patent JP2006247310A, from 2006, relating to a collapsible hanger for jackets and trousers, in which the arms are opened and closed by means of two push-buttons, one on each side of the hooked support body. Although apparently similar to the present invention, as it also includes a foldable crossbar in two segments between the ends of the arms which fold when force is applied thereto, in practice it constitutes a more manual than automatic solution, since it lacks an independent lock-unlock device and requires both push-buttons to be pressed simultaneously in order to keep the arms lowered. Furthermore, the folding of the crossbar is carried out by means of a different mechanism, which only permits upward movement.

[0009] Almost simultaneously with said Japanese patent, foldable hangers with automatic push-button devices appeared. These comprised a hook connected to a support body with two foldable arms in the same plane, wherein the support body was indeed provided with a lock-unlock push-button to secure the arms in either of their two positions, use or folded. However, such hangers were generally conceived only for jackets. Among these, noteworthy for having an anchoring system of the same type as that claimed in the present invention, are the German utility model DE202004009288-U1 (2004), concerning a foldable hanger formed by a central casing with springs for releasing or locking the extended arms for use or storage, the Japanese patent JP2006223705-A (2005), and the Korean patent KR20130107771-A (2012). The fundamental distinction between these hangers and the proposed invention lies in the absence of an articulated crossbar for trousers. The German model contemplated the possibility of inserting a crossbar between the ends of the arms in the open position, but in such case the hanger ceased to be foldable.

[0010] Foldable hangers with a push-button arm lock-unlock device and a crossbar foldable in two parts, of the general type to which the present invention relates, are known only from three documents, corresponding to two Korean patents and a recent Spanish utility model. As will be discussed below, these represent different solutions, both in respect of the arm lock-unlock mechanism and, in particular, in respect of the crossbar folding system, which does not provide for an articulation between the constitutive segments as claimed herein, permitting folding either upwards, within the arms, or downwards, as a continuation thereof.

[0011] Korean patent KR20090096103-A, from 2008, discloses a foldable hanger for jackets and trousers consisting of an operating unit with a push-button, equivalent to the lock-unlock device of the present application, fitted into a body at the lower end of the hook. This serves as a guide bar from which the movable arms extend in response to the button actuation. However, aside from the differences in the push-button device, the articulation of the trouser support into two equal segments concealable in the arms appears to be of a conventional cylindrical type.

[0012] The other Korean patent, KR20150011949-A, discloses a hanger of the indicated type, but with a semi-automatic arm lock-unlock system; the locking is manual on the arms, whereas the unlocking to the use position is automatic with a push-button. The arms are manually forced inwards to fold, thereby actuating the central articulation of the crossbar which ascends, divided into two parts, to engage within the interior of the arms. Subsequently, pressing the button suffices for the hanger to open automatically. This also represents a different solution.

[0013] Finally, Spanish utility model ES1234849-U, granted in 2018, relates to a foldable hanger provided with a series of articulations enabling conversion of the classic triangular structure into a rhombus-shaped structure. In its general characteristics it is a hanger of the same type as that of the present application, including a lock-unlock push-button mechanism for the arms in the hook body. Nevertheless, aside from the differing features of the push-button, it differs in that the crossbar articulation at its centre allows only downward folding to form a rhombus, since a single type of articulation employed at all joints permits solely that movement.ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION.-

[0014] The foldable hanger for jackets and trousers with push-button mechanism according to the invention is derived from the detachable triangular-structure hanger type used for jackets. It comprises a support body provided with an upper hook and two rectangular foldable lateral arms, having front, rear, upper outer and lower inner faces, which are opened and closed in the same plane by means of respective joints connecting them to the body, and are anchored in two positions: folded, closed or with arms lowered, and in use, open or with arms raised, through actuation of a lock-unlock device with manual push-button or lever, integrated into or configured as a housing within the support body.

[0015] The invention is essentially characterised by the inclusion of a crossbar articulated in two equal parts between the ends of the arms, by means of a tilting device which, through the force exerted at both ends when the arms are closed, enables-depending on the selected option, by shifting a key or latch-the two parts to flex upwardly or downwardly. In addition, the foldable arms are designed with known shafts allowing anchorage in both folded and open positions by the lock-unlock device, and with lateral recesses which, in the closed position of the arms, permit the two segments of the crossbar to be housed therein in the upward movement option. A specific anchoring device, designed expressly for this hanger, is further incorporated.

[0016] More specifically, the articulated crossbar for trousers or other garments to be hung or clipped thereon is a cylindrical rod divided at its centre into two equal segments, joined at their distal ends to the ends of the lateral arms by respective cylindrical joints, and joined at their proximate inner ends by a connection and tilting device with guides. These guides accommodate and displace said ends by means of rolling-ball couplings provided at the centre of the base perimeter of each end, consisting of a straight projecting shaft terminating in a sphere of greater diameter than the rod of the crossbar, movable upwardly or downwardly in the open guide paths under the pressure exerted by the closing of the lateral arms upon their folding and anchorage, thereby causing the crossbar to fold into two parts in two possible positions: closed, housed with the arms, or open, as an extension thereof. The cylindrical joints of the crossbar with the lateral arms are constituted by a cylindrical pin passing through coincident circular holes formed in the corresponding ends, acting as a common axis of rotation of the arm and crossbar profiles.

[0017] The connection and tilting device with guides of the inner ends of the crossbar at its midpoint is formed by a rectangular box, in which the sides between the ends are the laterals, and the sides perpendicular thereto are the upper, lower, front and rear sides in relation to the hook of the hanger. Said box comprises lipped openings in the laterals, and two double curved rails inside, extending inwardly from the openings, each rail having two branches, upper and lower, in symmetrical positions with respect to the longitudinal and transverse central planes of the box, defining in the centre a body which, in longitudinal section between the laterals, presents a diamond shape with concave curved sides. Two wedge-shaped portions are separated at the vertices of the horizontal diagonal, and by means of respective small cylindrical joints within the tubular edges of the fragmented body, are simultaneously actuable by a latch on the front side of the box, and rotatable at an angle of 40°-50° about said diagonal, upwardly or downwardly, until anchored in a fixed position forming continuous surfaces with the concave curved upper or lower sides of the conical body. These constitute the guides for elevation or descent of the two divisions of the crossbar by means of their rolling-ball couplings.

[0018] The foldable arms of the hanger are distinguished by a longitudinal tubular channel or groove along their mutually facing inner sides, of complementary geometry to the inner tubular profile of the articulated crossbar, which serves to house the two divided parts of the crossbar when folded in the closed position.

[0019] Said foldable arms, arranged in front of the housing forming the lock-unlock device with push-button, are provided at the lower part of their ends closest to the hook with respective cylindrical joints with the body of the housing, constituted by a cylindrical pin passing through coincident circular holes formed in said part of the ends and the front side, acting as the rotation axis for the arms in folding; and, at the upper part of the ends, with respective conical shafts fixed at their bases to the rear face of said arm ends, penetrating by their vertices into the housing body through respective holes on either side of the push-button, the conical vertices further facilitating the rotation of the arms in the folding operation.

[0020] The lock-unlock device of the foldable arms, an essential component of the hanger and itself claimed as inventive, is constituted by a T-shaped housing in plan view, formed by a casing of panels or plates, with front, rear, upper, lower and lateral sides. A manual button or push-button is located at the centre of the front side, the actuation of which displaces a straight metallic plate joined thereto inside the housing, the plate being provided with a spring restoring the push-button to its original position once released. Said metallic plate carries, inserted at each of its lateral profiles by means of respective cylindrical joints, two hook-shaped levers which embrace at their ends the vertices of the conical shafts of the foldable arms, sliding along guide slots in the form of curved openings in the front side of the housing, in order to permit rotation of the lateral levers in the opposite direction to the push-button penetration, guided by tracks on the inner side of the upper wall of the housing. In this way, the levers push against the conical shafts to displace them through the curved openings formed in the front side, thereby releasing the arms, which fold by gravity to the closed position with arms lowered.

[0021] The straight metallic plate is further provided with a perpendicular metallic pin engaged in a lock-unlock disc arranged in parallel on the lower side of the housing, said disc having a blocking stop formed by a metallic Z-shaped tab disposed perpendicularly thereto, whose purpose is to block the device when actuated with the arms lowered, thereby allowing its use, the metallic pin fitting into the acute corner of the Z. Below this disc is located a second disc joined to the first by means of a second metallic pin coupled with a torsion spring at its centre, which together return the lock disc to its initial position. By pressing the button again the device is unlocked and returned to the original open hanger position for holding garments.FIGURES and DIAGRAMS.-

[0022] At the end of the present descriptive report, a series of figures is provided, containing illustrative drawings of the recommended foldable hanger and its component parts. Figure 1 is a front elevation view of the hanger in the locked position for hanging garments. Figure 2 shows a detail of the connection between one of the foldable side arms and the trouser crossbar, joined by a cylindrical pin articulating both components. Figure 3 shows the opposite end of the trouser crossbar, provided with a sphere adapted to fit into the connection and folding device. Figure 4 is a plan view of the connection and folding device, showing the entry of the crossbar spheres and the alternative directions available. Figure 5 is an exploded axonometric view of the complete connection and folding device, including the top cover. Figures 6 and 7 are front elevation views of the two positions that the unlocked hanger may adopt: folded down with the crossbar facing upwards (Figure 6), and folded downwards (Figure 7). Figure 8 is a perspective view of the side arms, showing the hollow configuration for housing the crossbar, the joints with other parts of the element, and the conical shaft adapted for insertion into the locking device. Figure 9 shows the locking and unlocking device with all its components. MANNER OF EXECUTION.-

[0023] As shown in Figure 1, the hanger in question presents the traditional triangular shape of a clothing hanger, with the particular feature in this case being its ability to fold simply by pressing a button. The hanger is comprised of a support body (1) with an upper hook (2) and two rectangular folding side arms (3), together with an articulated crossbar (5) including a connection and folding device (8) at its midpoint.

[0024] The support body (1), as shown in Figure 9, houses inside it a locking and unlocking device for the folding side arms (3). This device is comprised of a T-shaped box (4) in top view, formed by a housing of panels or plates with front, rear, upper, lower, and lateral sides. At the center of the front side there is located a manual push button (24), which, when actuated, displaces a straight metal plate (25) connected thereto inside the box, said plate ending in a spring (26) that returns the push button to its original position once released. This plate (25) is joined via a horizontal joint (28) to two hook-shaped levers (27) which embrace at their ends the vertices of the conical shafts (23) of the folding arms, in order to prevent movement and keep the arms raised. When the push button is actuated, the system unlocks, causing the levers to rotate in the opposite direction of the button's penetration and, guided by rails (30), to release the conical shafts, thereby allowing their movement through curved openings (29) provided in the front side of the box, permitting the rotation of the folding arms under the force of gravity into the closed position or lowered-arm state. The straight plate (25) is also joined to a perpendicular metallic pin (31) which inserts into a locking-unlocking disk (32) positioned parallel to the lower side of the box. Said disk includes a blocking stop (33) formed by a Z-shaped metal tab arranged perpendicularly to the disk, whose function is to block the device when actuated with the arms lowered, by means of the engagement of the metallic pin (31) in the acute corner of the Z. Beneath this disk is a second disk (34), connected to the first via a second metallic pin (35) and coupled by a torsion spring (37) located at its center, which together restore the locking disk (32) to its initial position. By pressing the button again, the device is unlocked and returns to its original open-hanger position, thereby supporting garments.

[0025] The folding arms (3) of the hanger are of rectangular shape with rounded corners, in particular the outer lower corner having a larger radius of curvature to avoid garment deformation. Each arm includes a longitudinal tubular groove (21) along its inner opposing faces, of complementary geometry to the tubular profile of the articulated trouser crossbar (5), serving to house the two divided parts of the crossbar in the folded position, as shown in Figure 8. The arms are joined to the support body (1) via cylindrical joints (22) located at the outer upper part, which pass through the full thickness of the box (4), acting as hinges and enabling rotation of the arms with respect to the support body. Additionally, at the inner upper part each arm incorporates a conical piece (23) serving as a pivot shaft. This shaft is inserted into the box through guideways or curved openings (29) that direct the shafts during the opening and closing of the hanger. In the open position, the conical shafts are blocked by the levers (27) at the lower end of the curved openings; in the unlocked position, with the arms lowered, the levers are released and the conical shafts move upward to the upper part of the openings. At the inner lower part of each arm is a cylindrical joint (6) that connects the arms with the trouser crossbar (5). As shown in Figure 2, this joint is composed of a metal pin that passes through the arm of the hanger from front to rear and fits into a corresponding recess in the crossbar, thereby allowing rotation of the crossbar relative to the arm.

[0026] As can be seen in the figures, the crossbar (5) is composed of two symmetrical parts joined together by the folding device (8), which is responsible for articulating the upward or downward movement of the crossbar and thereby the folding of the hanger. As described, the crossbar is joined to the side arms (3) through the cylindrical joint (6). At the other inner end of each half (7), as shown in Figure 3, there is provided a rolling-ball engagement (9) located at the center of the perimeter base of each half, formed by a straight projecting shaft (10) fixed to the end of the crossbar, which terminates in a metallic sphere (11) or equivalent material of greater diameter than the rod of the crossbar. This sphere is inserted into the rectangular folding box (8), allowing ascending or descending movement depending on the guide path selected, due to the pressure exerted by the closing of the side arms during their positioning and locking in the folded state, resulting in the folding of the crossbar into one of two possible positions: closed, stowed within the arms, or open, as an extension thereof. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the spheres enter the device (8) through a flanged opening (14) at the sides, which bifurcates into two rails (15a and 15b), each with two branches, upper and lower, symmetrically arranged with respect to the central longitudinal and transverse planes of the box, defining at the center a body (16) which in longitudinal section presents a rhomboid shape with concave curved sides (17). Between this body and the cover (13) of the box, at the vertex of the rails, there are located two wedges (18) connected by cylindrical joints (19). These wedges, simultaneously actuated by a latch (20) on the front side of the box, are rotatable through an angle of 40°-50° around the diagonal, upwards or downwards, until locked in a fixed position forming continuation surfaces with the upper or lower concave curved sides of the central body, thereby constituting the guides for the upward or downward movement of the two halves of the crossbar through their rolling-ball engagements.

Claims

1. Foldable hanger for jackets and trousers provided with a push-button mechanism, formed from the type of detachable hanger of triangular structure used for jackets, comprising a support body (1) with an upper hook (2) and two rectangular folding side arms (3), with front, rear, upper-exterior and lower-interior faces, which open and close in the same plane through respective joints with the support body, for anchorage in two positions: in folded state, closed or lowered arms, and in use, open or raised arms, by actuation of a locking-unlocking device with push button or manual lever integrated or formed as a housing (4) in the support body; characterised in that it includes an articulated trouser crossbar (5) in the form of a cylindrical rod, divided at its centre into two equal parts or segments, joined at their distal ends to the ends of the folding side arms by respective cylindrical joints (6), and joined at their inner or proximal ends (7) by means of a connection and folding device (8) with guides, into which said ends are coupled and displaced by means of a rolling ball engagement (9) arranged at the centre of the perimeter base of each of them, formed by a projecting straight shaft (10) terminating inserted into a sphere (11) of diameter greater than that of the crossbar rod, moving upward or downward depending on the guide track engaged, due to the pressure exerted by the closure of the side arms in their positioning and anchorage in folded state, with the consequent folding of the crossbar into two parts in two possible positions: closed, stowed together with the arms, or open, as a continuation thereof; wherein the cylindrical joints (6) between the crossbar and the folding side arms are constituted by a cylindrical pin (12) through coincident circular holes made in the corresponding ends, acting as common axis of rotation of the arm profiles (3) and crossbar (5) in movement; and wherein the connection and folding device (8) by means of guides of the inner ends of the crossbar is formed by a rectangular box (13), in which the sides between the ends (7) are the laterals, and those perpendicular thereto are the upper, lower, front and rear sides in relation to the hanger hook, with a flanged mouth (14) on the laterals, and two double curved guide tracks (15a and 15b) inserted inside, penetrating from the mouths, each with two branches, upper and lower, in symmetrical positions with respect to the central planes of longitudinal and transverse section of the box, delimiting a body in the centre (16) that in longitudinal section between laterals presents the form of a rhombus with concave curved sides (17), with two wedge-shaped portions (18) separated at the vertices of the horizontal diagonal, which, by respective small cylindrical joints (19) inside the tubular edges of both parts of the fragmented body, actuatable simultaneously by a latch (20) on the front side of the box, are rotatable at an angle between 40°-50° about the diagonal, upwards or downwards, until said portions are anchored in a fixed position forming continuation surfaces with the upper or lower concave curved sides of the conical body, constituting the guide surfaces for elevation or descent of the two divisions of the crossbar by means of their rolling ball engagements.

2. Foldable hanger for jackets and trousers provided with a push-button mechanism, according to claim 1, characterised in that the folding side arms (3) of the hanger present a longitudinal tubular groove or channel (21) on the opposing inner faces, of geometry complementary to the tubular profile of the articulated trouser crossbar (5), for the lodging in the arms of the two divided parts of the crossbar folded in closed position.

3. Foldable hanger for jackets and trousers provided with a push-button mechanism, according to claim 1, characterised in that the folding side arms (3), positioned in front of the box forming the locking-unlocking device with push button, present, at the lower part of their ends closest to the hook, respective cylindrical joints (22) with the body of the box, constituted by a cylindrical pin through coincident circular holes made in said part of the ends and in the front side of the box, acting as axis of rotation of the arms in folding; and, at the upper part of the ends, respective conical shafts (23) fixed by their bases to the rear face of that part of the arms, penetrating by their vertices into the body of the box through respective holes on both sides of the push button.

4. Foldable hanger for jackets and trousers provided with a push-button mechanism, according to claims 1 and 3, characterised in that the locking-unlocking device of the folding side arms (3) is constituted by a box (4) with T-shape in plan view, formed by a casing of panels or plates, with front, rear, upper, lower and lateral sides, in the centre of the front side of which a manual button or push button (24) is arranged, the actuation of which displaces a straight metal plate (25) joined thereto inside the box, which terminates in a spring (26) that returns the push button to its original position after release of the actuation, said plate carrying inserted, by each of its lateral profiles, by means of respective cylindrical joints (28), two hook-shaped levers (27) which embrace at their ends the vertices of the conical shafts (23) of the folding side arms, which slide along guide tracks (29) in the form of two curved openings in the front side of the box, to allow rotation of said lateral levers in the direction opposite to the penetration of the push button guided by guide rails (30) arranged inside the upper face of the box; the straight plate (25) furthermore comprises a metal tip (31) which traverses it perpendicularly to be inserted into a locking-unlocking disc (32) arranged in parallel on the lower side of the box, with a locking stop (33) formed by a metal tab in the form of a Z disposed perpendicularly to the disc, in which the metal tip engages in the acute corner of the Z, beneath which a second disc (34) is arranged, joined to the first by a second metal tip (35) which engages with a torsion spring (36) located at its centre

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