Flexhang FlexHanger

This invention I call the Flexhanger it is a versatile apparel Hanger originally intended for belts by hooking the buckle of a belt on the hook. It uses a male to female adaption system to make it modifiable to the number of belts the consumer has. If you get another belt, then just print another addable piece!

The key elements I put into the project were they it had to be:

1. Useable from most age ranges ( This meant elderly and kiddos could easily use and assemble it )
2. Versatile for multiple different types of belts
3. Simple ( I didn't want to design something that would take a long time to print while being of a quality for others to use for a long while before having to replace with a new one )
4. Efficient ( True to the statement, I made it so less than a gram of filament would be used for supports and is still an effective tool for the masses. )

The reason I chose this project was to help and innovate a problem I have grown to know recently through my personal life and through others that have experienced similar problems. Current belt and apparel hanger either have too many or too few attachment points or are even too bulky for the average person to use so I designed something that others could use a reusable plastic that's ergo eco-friendly due to recycle ability and can be custom to the user and their amount of items they want to hang.

You will need a 3D printer of any kind; I suggest PLA filament due to its expense and wide variety of colours! I used a Dremel 3D45 for this provided by my school and chose a sparkly, yellow filament. Don't forget to have a belt or tie to use or else the print won't be of much use for you! ( Matterhackers filament to be more specific )

I went through MANY design iterations and prototyping just to figure out that design didn't work or didn't align with the addable pieces. (ugh.) It definitely tried my patience but I was able to pull through. I had dealt with and should warn about hole sizing; I went for a permanent and snug fit originally but wanted it to be consumer friendly so I came up with small iterations on nozzle size and male to female sizing ratios. I also went with a little triangle-like shape to provide stability to the product so weight wouldn't snap the hook. FINALLY I added pegs to make it have a permeate place for those not thinking of ever removing and separating them, but it can be removed by simply spudging the pegs off.

Printing only takes 6 hours for 75% infill and contains pegs, one addable piece, and a main hook. And just to note, the printer I was using is much more slower compared to Bambu printers so it might print even better on those! (3D45) I only needed supports on the hooks themselves which weren't too much to deal with.

To connect together all you have to do is connect the main hook to an addable piece by inserting the male into the female socket and make sure to make the hooks face the same direction. If you want to make it more permanent, add a peg to help with weight getting added to the build. I've found that without pegs, the user can typically hold seven belts without the pegs before detachment.