US3378180A - Valet hanger for ties and the like - Google Patents

Description

VALET HANGER FOR TIES AND THE LIKE Filed July 26, 1966 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.2

Gerald Singer IN VENTOR. 68

BY WW HM April 16, 1968 G. SINGER 3,378,180

VALET HANGER FOR TIES AND THE LIKE Filed July 26, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.5

Gerald Singer JNVENTOR.

Y Mm United States Patent Ofiice 3,378,180 VALET HANGER FOR TIES AND THE LIKE Gerald Singer, 816 Regency Court, Toms River, NJ. 08753 Filed July 26, 1966, Ser. No. 567,961 9 Claims. (Cl. 223-87) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE -cludes a plurality of generally horizontally disposed slots for grippingly engaging individual ties together with additional openings for receiving other accessories such as cud links, shirt studs and the like.

This invention generally relates to improvements in devices in the form of hangers, carriers and supports for holding, storing and displaying various styles, patterns and types of ties and other related accessories and more particularly relates to novel improvements in devices of this nature for use particularly in association with a conventional garment hanger, but also adaptable for use with various other type hangers, display racks, holders, etc.

The present invention finds its preferred, though not restricted, environmental use in association with a conventional hanger on which an article of apparel, such as a man's jacket, is draped or hung, the invention making use of the exposed central section of the body portion of the hanger and the neck portion which carries the hook by virtue of which the hanger is attached to a support, such as a clothes rod or the like. An object of the present invention is to provide a device primarily for the display and easy viewing of two or more ties plus accessory items whereby the owner need not move one tie up or down or to the side to View the pattern or style of another tie or accessory hanging on the same hanger.

Thus, an aligned important object of the present invention is to provide a hanger, carrier or support, in 'association with a conventional hanger, whereby accessory articles of apparel, such as ties, handkerchiefs, cuff links and the like, can be attached to the hanger in a visual relationship with a jacket or other article of apparel disposed on the hanger, whereby a potential wearer of the jacket and user of certain of the articles of apparel can make a quick and easy visual comparison of the relationship, as to pattern, style, color and the like, between specific ties, 'handkerchiefs and the like in association with the specific jacket, leading to a judicious matching selection of a specific tie, handkerchief, cuff link assembly and the like to be worn with the specific jacket, in "accordance with the given desires of the potential wearer of the jacket.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a carrier and hanger device for supporting articles of haberdashery, such as ties, in a manner so that the articles are securely and firmly held and prevented against accidental dislodgement when the invention is handled, moved, carried in a rough manner or under adverse conditions, as is, or when the device is used per so, to be supported by a hook, rod or the like or being usable in association with a conventional coat or jacket hanger.

3,378,180 Patented Apr. 16, 1968 A further object of the present invention is to provide a display device of the foregoing type, which is adjustable so that it can be attached to any type of hanger in a manner so that it is securely anchored to the hanger whereby it is prevented from becoming dislodged from the hanger, irrespective of the manner in which the hanger is used.

A still further important object of the present invention is to provide a very inexpensive, simple, sturdy and compact haberdashery hanger and haberdashery display device, which is provided with self-contained means for firmly and securely holding ties, handkerchiefs and other accessories, either in association with a conventional coat hanger on which a jacket or the like is hung or by itself.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereter described and claimed, reference being had to the mar accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of one form of the present invention, showing the same in structural and functional association with a hanger on which a jacket is hung or draped and illustrating the preferred environmental use and utility of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the device of FIGURE 1, showing the same in structural association with the coat hanger and illustrating a means for attaching the device to the coat hanger;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the display device of FIGURES l and 2;

FIGURES 4 and 5 are front and end. elevational views, respectively, of a modified form of device in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURES 6 and 7 are front and end elevational views, respectively, of a further modified form of the present invention, and

FIGURE 8 is a front elevational view of a still further modified form of the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, and initially to FIGURES 1-3, the present invention comprises a haberdashery display hanger device 10, which, in its preferred environmental use, is adapted to be structurally associated with a conventional coat hanger 12.

For exemplary purposes, the coat hanger i2 is illustrated as being the type that is generally utilized for supporting a mans jacket 14. The coat hanger 12 is of the so-called wooden type and is generally composed of a body portion 16, having a central section 13 from which a neck portion 26 upstands, with the neck portion supporting a hook 23 by virtue of which the hanger can be suspended from a clothes rod, hook or other fixture.

The display device 16 is preferably but not limited to being formed in one piece and includes a body portion 22, and a centrally disposed neck portion 24, which terminates in a hook or loop attaching portion 26.

The device it} may be stamped or otherwise formed from a flat sheet of material, or combination of materials which are of a sturdy and durable nature but which possess an inherent flexibility. Preferred materials are well-known plastic materials or the like.

The display device id, as aforementioned, includes a body portion 22, which is provided with means for re taining, in a secure and firm manner, without fear of accidental dislodgement, various articles of haberdashery or similar items, such as four-in-hand neckties, bow ties, preformed fourin-hand and bow ties, cuff links, handkerchiefs, scarfs, also jewelry articles and the like.

Thus, the body portion .722 is formed with self-contained means for retaining such articles, though it is envisioned that detachable clamping means could be structurally associated with the body portion 22. However, in its simplest form, the body means itself is formed with means which functions to retain, in a firm and secure manner, the various items.

The body portion 22 has an upper edge 28, from the center of which the neck portion 24 projects, in a upstanding fashion. The neck portion 2 has outwardly flared or sloping side edges which merge smoothly with the sections of the top edge 25s on opposite sides of the neck portion, the sections of the top edge being formed so as to complement and preferably not be disposed above the upper supporting edge of the body portion 16 of the hanger.

The neck portion is connected to the attachment means 26 by means of an integral juncture portion 36, which can be bendable, due to the inherent qualities of the material or which may be pre-bent or which may be formed with score lines or the like, making the bending easier or an attachment means of a different material or form can be attached in a number of ways, at any desired angle in the general area of juncture portion 30 or neck portion 24 or to body portion 22.

In its initial form, the entire display device can be fiat with the attachment means 26 lying in the same plane as the neck portion 24 and body portion 22, as indicated by dotted lines in FIGURE 3.

In its structural association With a hanger, such as the hanger 12, the attachment means 26 is preferably bent so as to be offset at an angle from the coplanar neck and body portions. The angle may be a right angle, as shown in FIGURE 2, or any particular angular relationship with Various factors governing the particular angular relationship. Sorne governing factors are that the attachment means securely engage the hook 23 and that the attachment means engage the hook in such a fashion that the body portion 22 is spaced, as shown in FIGURE 2, so that the body portion 22 will have a proper suspended position or fall from the neck portion 20 of the hanger and will be in proper orientation with respect to the exposed central section 18 of the body portion of the hanger and with the neck portion 2t of the hanger and wiil not interfere with the proper draping of the jacket or similar garment on the hanger.

The attachment means 26, as shown in FIGURE 3, comprises an integral hook 32 formed on the end of the neck portion 24 and connected thereto by the bendable or firm juncture portion 30. The hook 32 terminates preferably in an upwardly curved inner edge 34, which can be struck on the same radius as the curvature of the closed portion of the hook, with the outer end 36 being straight (or curved) and being slightly spaced from the confronting straight (or curved) side edge 38. The gap or space 40, which is thus created, is very slight but is of sufficient dimension to permit the hook to pass, possibly with slight pressure, over the shank portion 23a of the hanger hook. The shank portion 23a is then located within the opening 42 defined by the hook and is quite obvious that the display device cannot become accidentally dislodged from the hook 235 and will be firmly and securely attached to the hanger 12 by virtue of the hook and also due to the angular offset relationship of the hook, which constitutes the integral attachment means, whereby the body portion will be disposed in a position overlying the center section 18 of the body portion 16. Thus, the body portion 22, as shown in FIGURE 1, will lie within the exposed area between the lapels L of the jacket 14.

The body portion 22 is provided with opposing side edges 44 and 46. Opening through each side edge and disposed in the same plane are slots 58 and 50, which constitute one method of inserting neckties, handkerchiefs, scarfs or the like to the body portion. Each of the slots is formed in an identical fashion and, with respect to the slot 43, the same has an outer curved upper edge portion 48a and which slopes downwardly and upwardly and has an inner terminating end or curved edge 52. The point 54 of the upper edge is the lowest point and defines and becomes the gripping member, which cooperates with the straight bottom wall or edge 56 of the slot. The bottom edge is formed at its outer end with a lip 58, that confronts the edge 4341 and serves as a retainer to prevent ac cidental lateral movement of an article, such as a tie or handkerchief, outwardly beyond the side edges of the body portion. The inner end of the lower edge of wall 56 has a concave edge 60, so that the concave edge 69 and edge 52 are on a radius and constitute the inner end of the slot defined by the edges 54 and 56 so as to permit a limited degree of relative flexible movement in opposite directions of upper point 54 and lower edge 56, creating another method of inserting or releasing ties and the like from the body portion 22.

Diagonal slots 62 are formed in the body portion and are in communciation with the slot 48 and open through the lower edge 56, the slot being arranged diagonally and extending downwardly and outwardly and being adapted to serve as a gripping or holding means for holding cuff links or the like and are also serving as holders for the clips on pro-formed bow ties.

The body portion 22 has a lower end portion 64, which is formed at the side edges 44 and 46 and, intermediate the side edges, with slots 66 that are of similar design and purpose as slots 48 and 50. As in the case of the slots 48 and 50, the slots 66 have downwardly bowed or arcuate upper edges 66a which becomes the pressure point or gripping member in cooperation with the straight lower confronting edges 66b. The lower edges have outer hook ends or lips 660, which act or serve the same purpose as lip 58. Radius a serves the same purpose as aperture Substantially elliptical shaped apertures 68 are formed in the body portion, below the upper edge 28 and to each side of the neck portion 24 and similar apertures 68 are formed in the lower end portion 64 and can be staggered or offset in relation, vertical-wise, with respect to the slot 66, the purpose being that articles, such as preformed four-in-hand ties (see tie S2 in FIGURE 2), cuff links, clips and the like, inserted in the apertures are exposed because of the spacing of the apertures with respect to the viewable front face of the body portion. A circular aperture 70 is formed in the body portion, substantially at the center thereof, to hold clips or cuff links or the like which may be of different configuration and not easily held by the elliptical shaped apertures 63 or diagonal slots 62. In this respect, it must be mentioned that the specific shape of the apertures is not of paramount importance though, depending upon the modified forms of the invention, the spacing and relative relationship thereof to each other and with respect to the front of the front face of the body portion may be considered of importance with regard to the viewahility of articles secured in the apertures or having portions, such as the clips of how ties, anchored in the apertures.

It can thus be seen that the body 22 is formed by virtue of the specific slots and apertures and the relative arrangement and placement thereof, with self-contained gripping or clamping or holding means whereby neckties, scarfs, bow ties and the like accessories, usable in conjunction with the jacket 14, may be attached to the body portion and whereby cuff links or like articles of jewelry which would also be worn at the same time that the jacket 14 was worn can be attached to the body portion in a manner so that the same are clearly visible, as illustrated in FIG- URE 1.

Thus, the primary aim of the present invention is satisfied in respect that the display device 10 retains the various haberdashery items in positions so that one viewing the front of the jacket 14 can make a judicious selection of a tie, handkerchief and particular cuff link set or other jewelry that the person desired to wear, on any given occasion, when the jacket 14 is worn.

In FIGURES 4 and 5, a modified form of display device generally designated by the numeral 10a, is shown, which includes a body portion 22a, an integral neck portion 24a, which is coplanar with the body portion and an attachment portion 72, which is integral with the upper end of the neck portion 24a and is in the form of an annular ring having a central aperture 74- which is adapted to be slipped over the hook of a hanger. The collar 72, which forms the attachment means 12a, is offset rearwardly and upwardly, in an obtuse or any other desired angle, from the coplanar, flat neck and body portions 24a and 22a, the angle being selected by the determinative practice of the proper positioning of the body portion over the front section of a hanger. The body portion 22a has slots 76 with self-contained clamping means Ifia and 7612, being of similar nature to 66a and 66b in FIGURE 3, for holding ties, handkerchiefs and scarfs and is also formed with a series of especially arranged, shaped and oriented apertures 78 or 73a for holding cuff links, clips of bow ties or the tongue portion 39 of a clip-on, preformed tie 82, as shown in FIGURE 2.

The display device 161.), which is illustrated in FIG- URES 6 and 7, is similar to the display device Ida except that the body portion 22b is formed with a lower end portion 8-3, which is formed with a slots 82, that are placed in similar fashion to the slots 65 of the body portion 22 of FIGURE 3. However, instead of the upper edge 82a of the slots 82 having a downwardly sweeping radius or curvature, which constitutes a clampin means in conjunction with the confronting straight edge of the slot, as in the instance of the edges 66a and 66b of the slots 65, the upper edge 82a of the slots 82 is formed centrally with a depending lug 84. The lug opposes a notch 36 formed in the bottom edge 82b and serves, in structural and functional association therewith, as a pressure or clamping means for gripping primarily the upper tongue portion 80 of a clip-on, preformed tie 82 (as shown in FIGURE 2'), a necktie, handkerchief, scarf or the like. This style slot is adaptable for use on all other modified models.

The body portion 22b is formed with a series of apertures 83, which are of but not limited to elliptical and circular formation and are spaced in staggered arrangement for the same reasons as the spacernent and arrangement of the apertures in the body portion 22 of the display de vice 10, as shown in FIGURE 3.

In FIGURE 8, a further form 160 is illustrated and such form is similar to the form shown in FIGURES 4 and 6 but instead of the attachment means 12a, which is in the form of an annular collar, in the instance of the device of FIGURES 4 and 6, the attachment means Me of FIGURE 8 is identical to the attachment means 26 of FIGURE 3 in that it consists of an open loop 9d, having an entrance slot $2 for the lateral passage of .the shank portion of a hanger hook into the loop. The body portion 22c has openings or slots 94 formed with retaining pressure or clamping points 94a and 94b and with apertures 96, which are similar to the slots '76 and pressure or holding points 76a, 76b and apertures 78 respectively of the device 1011 of FlGURE 4, though the particular spacing of the apertures 96 is somewhat varied, especially with respect to the annular aperture 98 and one of the elliptical apertures 160.

However, as aforcstated, with respect to the particular configuration of each of the apertures and the relative arrangement and spacing thereof in the body portions of any of the illustrated display devices, such would be dictated not by any factor of structural cri'iicality but more by reason of a spaced arrangement whereby articles, which would be attached to the body portions by virtue of the apertures, would be spaced apart for exposure purposes.

It can thus be seen, with respect to any of the illustrated display devices, that means is provided which, though usable in and of itself and, in such respect, being attachable by virtue of the attachment means to a fixture, is especially designed for attachment to a hanger and for use in association with a jacket, as illustrated in FIG- URE 1.

With the present invention employed in the manner disclosed, the owner or user thereof will have a relatively simple and inexpensive but yet durable hanger that permits articles stored thereon to be easily assembled and removed therefrom but with such articles being securely held in place and with the hanger itself being easily and securely attached to the neck of the parent garment hanger. With the parent garrnet hanger holding a jacket or suitcoat, the hanger of the present invention will be ecurely retained in place since it virtually is impossible for the present invention to fall off or away from its parent garment hanger or for that matter any other similar support to which the hanger of the present invention may be connected or attached. This hanger also permits the user to easily view without the necessity of the user physically raising or moving to the side any particular tic, ties or accessories in order to view a maximum number of patterns or styles of the remaining ties and accessories supported on the invention. The valet hanger will firmly and securely hold ties and accessories mounted thereon and prevent them from falling off even though the hanger or the parent garment hanger to which the hanger of the present invention is attached is handled roughly or carried in a rough manner such as when being carried over the shoulder, across the arm or the like. When the valet hanger is associated with the parent hanger havint a coat or jacket thereon, the main body of the valet hanger will fall in a posilion approximately between the lapels of the suit or jacket thus offering the user thereof a better view or idea of how any one or all of the ties or accessories held by the hanger will appear, blend, or clash with the jacket or suit.

By employing the valet hanger of the invention described previously, a person or user may store and display many different types and styles of ties and related accessories and thereaiter permit the user the opportunity of attaching the valet tang-er to a gnrmet hanger holding a particular suit or jacket whereby the user conveniently can select any one of the preselected assortment of patterns and styles of ties and accessories appropriate for such jacket or suit which may change the over-all general appearance of the particular suit or jacket and at the same time expand the versatility of the wardrobe of the user. For users who are in a rush or who have difficulty in selecting a proper tie from the many tics he may have in a closet or if the user is color blind or notoriously has poor taste in a selection of tie patterns and styles, the present invention when properly attached to the parent garment hanger holding the appropriate suit or jacket will retain the ties and accessories which are considered proper for a particular suit so that one of the appropriate ties or accessories can be quickly selected and employed.

The invention can be comprised of but not limited to a rather flat and relatively thin sheet of plastic or other suitable material that can receive or have attached thereto advertising material or other printed indicia to be placed on the face or back thereof. The device may be constructed of plastic material, metal such as aluminum or other material or combination of materials which are capable of limited flexing or being joined together at an angular position, if so desired, to form the desired attaching loop, collar or hook required or best suitable, for various types of garment hangers or for attachment to various types of display racks and the like. In some instances and with some materials, the attaching loop or hooks may be substantially rigid but the area which it is attached to the body portion can be made flexible in nature. Either a right or left clip or clasp on the back of a preformed bow tie can ca 'ly be placed on body portion or neck extending upwardly therefrom when the bow tie is in the open position and after the bow tie is snapped shut or closed, it will be fixed onto the neck generally in a position relative to the suit coat or jacket in which the bow tie is normally worn.

Preferably, all of the openings and the inner ends of the slot are rounded, curved or constructed on a radius to minimize any tendency of splitting or breakage when under stress or strain and the rounded surfaces also tend to minimize sharp corners that may promote catching or tearing of material. The pressure or grip exerted on the tie may be easily released, it need be by applying slight pressure (with the users fingers) in opposite directions, the body of the upper part of the slot (holding the tie) rom the lower part of the slot. This enables ties which are quite thick to be inserted fully into the slot by moving the portion of the body defining the lower and upper edge of the slot forwardly or rearwardly in opposite directions simultaneously. If tics having relatively thin material are to be supported in the slots, they may be doubled to provide adequate thickness for secure gripping directly under the pressure points or partially under same, as the case may be.

It is to be understood that the various cuts, openings, receptacles, etc. which the invention includes, and its shape and form are not limited in size, etc. and can easily be rearranged, restyled and organized in other modified forms coming equally within the scope of the appended claims and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement, organization or number of openings, etc. as herein shown and described.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, a garment hanger having an upstanding supporting hook, a depending shank, and garment supporting portions extending outwardly in opposite directions from said shank adapted to be disposed in the shoulder regions of a jacket or coat, a personal valet hanger including a main body panel having laterally extending portions generally paralleling the garment supporting portions of the garment hanger, an upwardly extending attaching portion along the upper edge of the main body panel, said attaching portion being in the form of a narrow shank terminating in connecting means engaged with the depending shank of the garment hanger, said main body panel including at least one generally horizontally disposed slot extending inwardly from the edge thereof for receiving a tie, said slot having top and bottom edges, portions of said edges being spaced closer together than other portions for gripping a tie to retain the tie between the lapels of a coat or the like on a garment hanger.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said attaching portion includes a flexible area to enable the main body panel to be oriented substantially vertically immediately adjacent the front surface of the garment hanger with the connecting means disposed in angular relation thereto in supporting engagement with the shank of the garment hanger.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said connecting means includes a closed annular loop with the shank of the garment hanger by movement over the end of the hook of the garment hanger.

4. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said connecting means includes a hook-shaped construction having an upwardly curved free end portion terminating in closely spaced relation to the narrow shank of the attaching portion and forming between said free end portion and said narrow shank a narrow opening, said free end portion adapted to render it more difiicult to disconnect the attaching portion from the shank of the garment hanger by requiring the narrow opening to be aligned with the shank of the garment hanger to disconnect the valet hanger from the garment hanger.

5. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said main body panel includes a plurality of openings formed therein for receiving cuff links and other accessories for supporting the same between the lapels and collar portion of a garment supported on the garment hanger, the inner end of said slot having a curved edge to enable lateral flexing of the top and bottom edges of the slot without rupture of the body panel, the outer end of said slot having a convexly curved top edge and a substantially straight lower edge terminating in an upwardly otfset lip to retain a tie on the substantially straight bottom edge of the slot.

6. The combination as defined in claim 5 wherein the main body panel is provided with a plurality of such slots, said slots being disposed in substantially horizontal alignment along the bottom edge of the main body panel and comprising outermost slots communicating with the remote edges of the main body panel and a central slot terminating generally in the central portion of the bottom edge of the main body panel, said main body panel having an upwardly extending recess in the bottom edge thereof forming an entrance area for the centrally disposed slot.

7. The combination as defined in claim 6 wherein said attaching portion includes a flexible area to enable the main body panel to be oriented substantially vertically immediately adjacent the front surface of the garment hanger and between the lapels and collar portion of a garment supported thereon with the connecting means disposed in connecting engagement With the shank of the garment hanger by lateral bending of the connecting means for positioning on the shank of the garment hanger above the outwardly extending garment supporting portions thereof.

8. A valet hanger for ties, cuff links and the like comprising a thin body panel of generally rectangular configuration and provided with rounded edges and being constructed of substantially rigid material having a degree of flexibility, the bottom edge of said panel being substantially straight, a pair of oppositely opening substantially horizontal and aligned slots extending inwardly from the side edges or" the panel adjacent the bottom edge thereof, a centrally disposed generally horizontal slot aligned with the other two slots, the bottom edge of said panel having a recess formed therein between one of said pair of slots and said centrally disposed slot defining an entrance area for the centrally disposed slot, each of said slots having top and bottom edges, the portion of the panel defining the bottom edge being laterally flexible to enable insertion and removal of ties into the slot, certain portions of the top and bottom edges of the slots being closer together than other portions thereof for grippingly engaging a tie positioned in the slot, the bottom edge of each of said slots having a substantially straight edge, the outer end of the bottom edge of each of said slots terminating in an upwardly extending lip, serving as a retainer for a tie placed in the slot, the inner end of each slot having a curved edge to enable lateral flexing of the lower edge of the slot in relation to the top edge thereof to prevent rupture of the panel inwardly of the inner end of the slot, said panel having a plurality of openings therethrough for receiving cuff links and the like for supporting the same adjacent ties supported by the slots, the upper edge of said panel having a relatively narrow upwardly extending shank terminating in connecting means adapted to engage the shank of a supporting hook on a garment hanger, the connecting means and shank including a juncture portion of flexible nature enabling the connecting means to be oriented in angular relation to the shank to enable the connecting means to engage the sup- 9 porting hook of a garment hanger with the shank and body panel disposed substantially vertical in depending relation from the hook of the garment hanger.

9. The structure as defined in claim 8 wherein said connecting means is in the form of loop means having a central open area for reception of the shank of a garment hanger hook.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 93,143 8/1934 Spragg.

1,278,694 9/1918 Lewellin 223-85 X 2,095,900 10/1937 Albert 211-89 1 ED 7/ 1941 Keeler ;223-91 9/1942 Weiss 211-89 4/1951 iLeitman 223-93 X 9/1952 Earll 211-89 3/1963 Seeger 211113 X 3/ 1967 Levine et a1. 223-95 FOREIGN PATENTS 7/1949 Denmark.

10 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

G. H. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner.

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