Ready hanger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Empty clothes hangers are often hidden among those with clothing, making it difficult to find available hangers when hanging clothes, as existing solutions do not provide a convenient method to quickly identify empty hangers in a closet.
Innovation Solution
A clothes hanger with a hinge that automatically pivots to raise an inclined arm when not in use, utilizing a weighted portion and offset center of gravity to rotate and expose the inclined end, allowing for easy visibility among other hangers, which can be achieved through design features like arm extensions, a spring element, or material distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the hanger remains in a horizontal position, then it is stable and easy to manufacture, but it is difficult to identify empty hangers among those with clothes
Solution Approach 1:
The hanger employs asymmetric design where one arm extension is configured to incline upward while the other inclines downward, creating visual distinction that makes empty hangers easily identifiable among those with clothes
Solution Approach 2:
The hanger incorporates a hinge mechanism that allows the hanger portion to rotate dynamically between horizontal and inclined positions, enabling automatic orientation based on whether clothes are present on the hanger
2Extent of automation
If a weighted portion is added to create imbalance and rotation, then the hanger automatically orients itself, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The weighted portion is localized to a specific region of the hanger (one arm extension or the hanger portion itself), creating the necessary imbalance for automatic orientation without requiring complex modifications throughout the entire hanger structure
Solution Approach 2:
The invention modifies the weight distribution parameter of the hanger by adding a weighted portion, which changes the center of gravity position and enables automatic rotation to the inclined position when empty
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 solution enables quick identification of empty hangers by automatically rotating the hanger to an inclined position, making them easily visible above other garments, thus simplifying the process of finding available space in a closet.
Implementation Method 1
The hanger portion of an exemplary ready hanger has a hanger portion center of gravity that is offset, a hinge offset distance, from the hinge. This offset center of gravity may be produced by a weighted portion that creates an imbalance about the hinge to cause the hanger portion to rotate and produce the inclined end.
Implementation Method 2
An exemplary ready hanger comprises a spring element that extends between the hook portion and the hanger portion. A spring element may be configured in tension to produce a force to pull the arm extension toward the hook portion and produce an inclined end.
Data Source
AI summary
A ready hanger automatically pivots about a hinge to raise an arm of the hanger up to make it easy to find the empty hangers in a crowded closet. A hinge is configured between the hook portion and hanger portion and a weighted portion creates an imbalance in the hanger portion to cause it to rotate about the hinge. The hanger portion rotates to produce an inclined end that extends up above the clothes and other hangers in the closet. The weighted portion may be configured proximal an extended end of the arm extension to produce torque to cause the hanger portion to rotate. The hanger portion rotates automatically to an incline angle from horizontal of at least 15 degrees or more. A spring element may be configured between the hook portion and hanger portion to produce the torque required to rotate the hanger portion and produce the inclined end.