Clothes hanger

Claim 2

A clothes hanger comprising a cross member having a central suspension hook, a pair of clamps carried by opposite ends of the cross member and each having a pair of opposing claws in articulated relationship with arm extensions of the claws projecting above the points of articulation of the claws, a pair of flexible leaf spring elements connected with said cross member and extending thereabove and adjacent to the tops of said arm extensions, and a pair of rigid tapered spreading elements one for each clamp and engageable between the arm extensions of the clamps to thereby force the clamps into gripping engagement with an article of clothing inserted between said claws, said spreading elements being bodily mounted on said flexible leaf spring elements near free ends of the latter, and said clothes hanger formed as a unit from moldable material.

Claim 3

A clothes hanger as defined in claim 1, and the opposing faces of said claws being toothed to resist stripping of clothes from the claws.

Claim 4

A clothes hanger as defined in claim 1, and wherein the spreading elements are of wedge-like configuration and are knurled, the opposing faces of said arm extensions being knurled.

Claim 5

A clothes hanger as defined in claim 1, and the articulated relationship of said claws being provided by a flexible web extending between the claws and joining them in spaced relationship.

Claim 6

A clothes hanger as defined in claim 1, wherein an arm extension of each clamp is provided on its interior face with vertical runners for said spreading element, said spreading element engaging the interior face of the opposing arm extension of the clamp.

Claim 7

A clothes hanger as defined in claim 5, and wherein each spreading element carries a toothed portion which engages a mating toothed portion formed in the interior face of the opposing arm extension.

Claim 8

A clothes hanger as defined in claim 6, and wherein each spreading element carries a lateral operating projection.

Claim 9

A clothes hanger as defined in claim 1, wherein each clamp is movably mounted on said cross member.

Claim 10

A clothes hanger comprising a cross member having a central suspension hook, a pair of clamps carries by opposite ends of the cross member and each having a pair of opposing claws in articulated relationship with arm extensions of the claws projecting above the points of articulation of the claws, a pair of spreading elements one for each clamp engageable between said arm extensions of the clamps to thereby spread the arm extensions apart and draw said claws of the clamps together in gripping engagement on an article of clothing inserted between said claws, and flexible bars connected with said cross member and carrying said spreading elements near corresponding ends of the flexible bars and normally holding the spreading elements free of engagement with said arm extensions and being yieldable to allow the spreading elements to engage between the arm extensions of said clamps.

Claim 11

A clothes hanger comprising a cross member having a central suspension hook, a pair of clamps carries by opposite ends of the cross member and each having a pair of opposing claws in articulated relationship with arm extensions of the claws projecting above the points of articulation of the claws, a pair of spreading elements one for each clamp engageable between said arm extensions of the clamps to thereby spread the arm extensions apart and draw said claws of the clamps together in gripping engagement on an article of clothing inserted between said claws, and flexible bars connected with said cross member and carrying said spreading elements near corresponding ends of the flexible bars and normally holding the spreading elements free of engagement with said arm extensions and being yieldable to allow the spreading elements to engage between the arm extensions of said clamps.

Claim 12

A clothes hanger as defined in claim 9, and said flexible bars extending longitudinally outwardly of the spreading elements to form end projections on the flexible bars which overhang the outer lateral edges of said clamps.

Claim 13

A clothes hanger as defined in claim 10, and said cross member, clamps, flexible bars and spreading elements molded as an integral unit from plastics material.