Garment grip construction for hangers

Claim 1

An improved clamp usable for clamping garments in a generally vertical orientation, said clamp comprises: a first clamp member having an inner surface; a second clamp member having an inner surface; biasing means engaging said members for biasing said inner surfaces towards each other to exert a clamping force on an article placed between said members when said inner surfaces are in opposed, clamping relationship; a first elongated ridge having a smoothly rounded crest and extending outwardly from said inner surface of said first clamping member; a second elongated ridge extending from said inner surface of said first clamp member in spaced, generally parallel relationship with said first ridge to thereby define an elongated recess between said ridges, said second ridge having a smoothly curved surface having a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of the crest of said first ridge; a third ridge extending from said inner surface of said second clamp member, said third ridge extending at least partially into said elongated recess when said inner surfaces are in opposed clamping relationship whereby the clamping force generated by said biasing means has a vertical component along said second and third ridges and said article is clamped along line contact areas so that the clamping pressure on the article is increased; and a plurality of elongated bar-like teeth, each having a length greater than its width and extending outwardly from said ridges and into an article clamped therebetween, said teeth being generally V-shaped in section and being tandemly arranged in a plurality of parallel rows wherein said inner surface of said second clamp member defines a concavity conforming to the surface of said second ridge and extending the width of said second clamp member.