Adjustable hanger for use in hanging garments and apparel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coat hangers often fail to accommodate garments of varying sizes, leading to issues such as folding, wrinkling, and the need for multiple hanger sizes, which is costly and cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable hanger with a triangular-shaped body and extension assemblies that can be slidably affixed to top rails, featuring resilient engagement members that frictionally engage with the hanger corners to adjust to standard, extended, or double extended sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single fixed-size hanger is used, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability to different garment sizes is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The hanger is divided into a main body and one or more extension assemblies that can be independently attached and detached. The extension assembly includes a extension bar with engagement members that can be positioned at different locations along the top rail, allowing the hanger to be segmented and reconfigured for different garment sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The hanger transitions from a static fixed-size structure to a dynamic adjustable structure. The extension assemblies can be moved along the top rail and positioned at different locations, and the engagement members can be engaged or disengaged from the corners of the main body, enabling the hanger to dynamically adapt to different garment dimensions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple fixed-size hangers are kept in stock, then the adaptability to different garment sizes is improved, but the cost and burden of inventory management increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single hanger with extension assemblies can perform the function of multiple fixed-size hangers. By attaching extension assemblies at different positions along the top rail, the same main body can accommodate small, medium, and large garments, making the hanger universal and eliminating the need to maintain separate inventories of different sized hangers.
Solution Approach 2:
The extension assemblies can be stored within or alongside the main body when not in use, similar to nested dolls. This allows the system to compactly contain multiple configuration options within a single hanger unit, reducing the overall quantity of hangers needed in inventory.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the hanger size does not match the garment size, then the device complexity remains low, but the garment protection is poor leading to folding and wrinkling
Solution Approach 1:
The hanger's segmented design with detachable extension assemblies allows precise matching of the hanger's support surface to the garment's dimensions. By adding or removing extension segments, the hanger can be configured to provide adequate support across the entire garment, preventing folding and wrinkling that occur when the hanger is too small.
4Adaptability or versatility
If extension assemblies are added to create adjustable sizes, then the adaptability to different garment sizes is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement members are designed to be resilient and capable of self-engagement with the corners of the main body. When the extension assembly is positioned correctly, the resilient engagement members automatically snap into the corner openings without requiring additional tools or complex locking mechanisms, allowing the user to easily adjust the hanger size through simple placement actions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The adjustable hanger effectively supports garments of different sizes, preventing wrinkling and reducing the need for multiple hanger sizes, thus optimizing storage and display.
Implementation Method 1
The engagement members are resilient and can be frictionally engaged within corners of the hanger body so as to hold the extension assembly in a fixed position
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable clothing hanger for use in for hanging garments and apparel includes a flattened triangular shaped body having a first upper rail and second upper rail. A plurality of extension assemblies are used to attach over the first upper rail and second upper rail. The plurality of extension assemblies each include a plurality of engagement members configured within the assembly that allow the respective extension assembly to engage with a corner of the triangular shaped body. This allows the extension assembly to be held into a fixed position and adjusted to a desired length and overall size depending on size and shape of the garment.