Garment hanger with offset hook

Abstract

A garment hanger having a pair of hanger members that are pivotally coupled together by a spring. The first hanger member includes an upper hook member and a lower clip region. The second hanger member is generally curved and includes an upper tab or gripping surface and a lower interior region. The upper hook member of the first hanger member extends in a plane that is laterally offset from the plane generally defined by the upper portion of the lower clip region so that the hook is positioned towards the center of the closed clip during use to allow a boot or other garment to hang more vertically.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment hanger, comprising:
 a first hanger member comprising:
 a first clip member having an upper portion and a bottom portion, the upper portion generally extending in a first plane; and 
 a hook member disposed substantially on top of the first clip member and extending in a second plane that is laterally offset from the first plane; and 
 a second hanger member that is pivotally connected to the first clip member. 
   
     
     
         2 . The garment hanger of  claim 1  wherein the second hanger member is curved. 
     
     
         3 . The garment hanger of  claim 1  wherein the first clip member and second hanger member are collectively substantially hourglass-shaped. 
     
     
         4 . The garment hanger of  claim 1  wherein the hook member comprises a neck and a hook extending from the neck. 
     
     
         5 . The garment hanger of  claim 4  wherein the hook member further comprises exterior walls defining a hollow interior region. 
     
     
         6 . The garment hanger of  claim 1  wherein a spring pivotally biases the second hanger member to the first clip member. 
     
     
         7 . The garment hanger of  claim 1  wherein the first clip member includes a garment gripping surface proximate its bottom and the second hanger member includes a garment gripping surface proximate its bottom and opposite the garment gripping surface of the first clip member. 
     
     
         8 . The garment hanger of  claim 7  where the garment gripping surfaces are made from a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         9 . The garment hanger of  claim 7  wherein the garment gripping surfaces comprise lamellae. 
     
     
         10 . The garment hanger of  claim 7  wherein the first clip member and the second hanger member include upper manual gripping surfaces on their exterior sides. 
     
     
         11 . The garment hanger of  claim 10  wherein the upper gripping surfaces are made from a textured material. 
     
     
         12 . The garment hanger of  claim 1  wherein the first plane is substantially parallel to the second plane. 
     
     
         13 . The garment hanger of  claim 1  wherein the first plane is disposed closer than the second plane to the second hanger member. 
     
     
         14 . The garment hanger of  claim 1  wherein the first plane is disposed closer than the second plane to a point of pivotal connection of the first and second hanger members. 
     
     
         15 . The garment hanger of  claim 7  wherein the garment gripping regions adjoin each other when the garment hanger is in a closed orientation. 
     
     
         16 . The garment hanger of  claim 15  wherein the first plane is disposed closer than the second plane to the adjoining garment gripping regions when the garment hanger is in the closed orientation.