Collapsible Clothes Hanger Locking Mechanism for One-Handed Use
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current clothes hangers are not adapted for one-handed individuals to efficiently hang and remove clothing, particularly those with small neck openings, as they require continuous effort to maintain the hanger in a collapsed position, making it difficult for users without sufficient strength to manage with one hand.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible clothes hanger with a locking mechanism that allows the arms to securely lock in a collapsed position, utilizing a helical torsion spring and sliding components with catches to facilitate easy insertion and removal with one hand, enabling vertical orientation for smooth entry and exit from clothing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a spring element is used to automatically return the pivoting arms to the expanded position, then the hanger can be easily collapsed for insertion, but the user must continuously apply force to maintain the collapsed position, which is problematic for users without sufficient strength
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is engaged in advance to secure the arms in the collapsed position before insertion begins. This preliminary locking action eliminates the need for continuous force application during the entire insertion process, allowing users with limited strength to maintain the collapsed position without exhaustion.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is designed to be self-sustaining once engaged, maintaining the collapsed position through its own structural integrity rather than requiring continuous external force. The mechanism serves itself by automatically holding the position without user intervention throughout the insertion process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the hanger arms are kept in the collapsed position during insertion, then the hanger can be inserted into small-necked garments, but one-handed individuals cannot make adjustments to the clothing without releasing the hanger
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism provides dynamic control, allowing the hanger to be securely locked in the collapsed position for insertion, then easily unlocked to transition to the expanded position for clothing adjustments. This dynamic switching between locked and unlocked states enables both precise insertion and flexible adjustment operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The insertion process is divided into periodic phases: first locking the arms in the collapsed position for insertion, then unlocking and expanding the arms for adjustments, and finally re-locking for removal. This periodic switching between locked and unlocked states optimizes the hanger's functionality at different stages of the dressing process.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a lock-release mechanism locks the arms into the expanded position, then the arms cannot rotate toward one another, but this does not facilitate one-handed insertion and removal from clothing
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into two distinct functions: one for locking the expanded position (preventing accidental collapse) and another for locking the collapsed position (facilitating insertion). This segmentation allows the mechanism to provide stability when needed while enabling easy one-handed operation during insertion and removal by locking the collapsed position.
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
Enables one-handed individuals to easily and efficiently insert and remove the hanger from clothing without continuous effort, addressing the limitations of existing hangers by providing a stable and efficient locking mechanism for the collapsed position.
Implementation Method 1
a helical torsion spring, the helical torsion spring pivotally connected to the central hook portion about a transverse pivoting axis
Implementation Method 2
the helical torsion spring adapted to bias the first outwardly projecting hanger arm and the second outwardly projecting hanger arm into a first expanded position
Implementation Method 3
the sliding component including a downwardly projecting first catch, the downwardly projecting first catch securely engaging the downwardly projecting second catch when the sliding component is in the first position
Implementation Method 4
the sliding component biased into the first position by a spring
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a collapsible and locking clothes hanger for one-handed individuals. In at least one embodiment, a collapsible clothes hanger comprises a central hook portion including a hook element and a helical torsion spring, a first hanger arm and a second hanger arm, the helical torsion spring adapted to bias the first and the second hanger arms into an expanded position, each of the first and the second hanger arms moveable to a collapsed position, with the first hanger arm including a sliding component moveable between a first position and a second position, the sliding component including a first catch, the second hanger arm including a second catch, the first catch securely engaging the second catch in the first position, the first catch disengaging the second catch in the second position to move the first and the second hanger arms from the collapsed position to the expanded position.