Hanger with clip

Abstract

A hanger including an elongate clip with upper and lower legs configured to hold a textile article therebetween. The elongate clip has a closed end and an open end opposite the closed end. A closure is included on the open end so that the clip can be shut when the article is placed between the legs. A hook, extending upward from the upper leg and away from the lower leg, allows the hanger to be placed on a support structure, such as a rod. The hanger can be made of biodegradable material.

1 . A hanger comprising:
 an elongate clip including:
 an upper leg with a first end and a second end, 
 a lower leg substantially parallel to the upper leg and including a first end and a second end, 
   a joint connecting the first end of the upper leg to the first end of the lower leg, a first portion of a closure disposed at the second portion of the closure disposed at the second end of the lower leg, the second portion of the closure being configured to engage the first portion of the closure so as to form an enclosed holding area between the upper and lower legs; and a hook extending up from the upper leg and away from the lower leg, wherein the elongate clip and the hook are formed as a single piece, and   wherein at least one of the upper and lower legs has a curved profile between the first and second ends.   
   
   
       2 . The hanger as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the single piece of the elongate clip and hook are made of biodegradable material. 
   
   
       3 . The hanger as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the closure includes a upward facing support surface and the second portion of the closure includes a downward facing attachment surface configured to rest on the support surface when the closure is in a closed position. 
   
   
       4 . The hanger as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the second portion of the closure is in the form of an engagement hook including the attachment surface, the engagement hook having a free end extending below the support surface when the closure is in a closed position. 
   
   
       5 . The hanger as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the joint has a first curved profile such that the first end of the upper leg is spaced apart from the first end of the lower leg. 
   
   
       6 . The hanger as recited in  claim 5 , wherein: the first portion of the closure extends down from the upper leg,
 the second portion of the closure extends up from the lower leg, and   the closure has a second curved profile when the closure is in the closed position, the second curved profile being similar to the first closed profile.   
   
   
       7 . The hanger as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the lower leg includes an upwardly extending projection and the upper leg includes a corresponding downwardly extending projection opposite the upwardly extending projection. 
   
   
       8 . The hanger as recited in  claim 7 , wherein each of the upwardly and downwardly extending projections includes teeth extending toward the corresponding other projection. 
   
   
       9 . The hanger as recited in  claim 1 , where each of the hook, upper leg and lower leg include a portion comprising a support beam, the support beam having a plurality of truss structures therein. 
   
   
       10 . The hanger as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the support beam tapers from a thick side to a narrow side opposite the thick side.) 
   
   
       11 . The hanger as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the hook and a portion of the upper leg are formed as a continuous support beam. 
   
   
       12 . The hanger as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the lower leg, the joint and a portion of the upper leg are formed as a continuous support beam.