Multi-Hinged Tri-Folding Garment Hanger for Compact Travel Packing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional garment hangers are bulky and inefficient for packing, leading to wrinkles and inconvenience when traveling, as they occupy valuable space in suitcases and require frequent unpacking and repacking, resulting in wrinkles and increased dry cleaning costs.
Innovation Solution
A multi-hinged tri-folding garment hanger with a central frame, double hinge joints, and a retractable hook member that allows the hanger to fold compactly, enabling garments to be packed without removal, maintaining shape and reducing wrinkles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a conventional garment hanger is used, then the garment can be supported and maintained in shape, but the hanger occupies valuable space in the suitcase and creates wrinkles during travel
Solution Approach 1:
The hanger is divided into multiple segments connected by hinge joints, allowing it to be folded into a compact configuration. The central frame, arms, and hook are segmented to enable tri-folding, reducing the volume occupied in the suitcase while maintaining the ability to support the garment when deployed
Solution Approach 2:
The hanger transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic collapsible structure through the introduction of hinge joints. This allows the hanger to adapt its configuration between an expanded state for garment support and a folded state for compact storage, resolving the contradiction between stability and volume
2Volume of moving object
If the hanger is removed from the garment during packing, then space can be saved, but the garment requires frequent unpacking and repacking which creates wrinkles and inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The hanger is designed to nest within itself through the nested folding action of its segments. When folded, the arms and hook are tucked into the central frame structure, creating a compact nested configuration that minimizes space occupation while keeping the garment securely attached
Solution Approach 2:
The hanger utilizes three-dimensional folding space by collapsing its structure along multiple axes. The tri-folding mechanism allows the hanger to transition from a two-dimensional planar configuration to a compact three-dimensional nested form, achieving efficient space utilization without removing the garment
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the hanger is left extended in the suitcase, then the garment remains wrinkle-free, but it takes up excessive space and is inconvenient for travel
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the hanger into foldable sections connected by hinges, the design enables the structure to collapse into a compact form factor that fits efficiently within suitcase constraints, eliminating the need to choose between wrinkle prevention and space savings
Solution Approach 2:
The hanger's physical parameters (length, volume, configuration) are made variable through the hinge joints. The structure can transition between an extended configuration for wrinkle-free garment support and a compact folded configuration for space-efficient packing, allowing optimization based on the specific travel context
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-hinged tri-folding garment hanger is disclosed. In one embodiment, a garment hanger includes a central frame embodying a first arm and a second arm toward each end configured to support corresponding shoulder portions of a garment in an open state of the garment hanger. In addition, the garment hanger includes four vertical members to connect the top elements to the corresponding bottom elements of the central frame. The central frame further includes a first double hinge joint on a top portion and a second double hinge joint on a bottom portion toward each of the first end and second end around which correspondingly the arms are capable of folding back onto the central frame toward a center thereof to a folded state. A hook member pivotably attached to the top portion of the central frame may be retractably folded to a most compact state without removal of the garment.