Extendable Hanger

In order to improve their operation, Goodwill has asked the classes to direct their focus towards the speed and efficiency of retail processing relating to the hanging and transportation of goods. Students are given the choice to innovate the hanging of items, the transportation of hangers and clothing, or the devices used to display items in-store. Their design must encompass efforts to bolster employment by providing safe controls, ease of use, and a means of hard-skill training to aid employees in seeking work in an ever-advancing economy. Finally, the concepts must align with Goodwill’s efforts for sustainability as they pioneer for nature and societal conservation within an industry that currently accounts for a significant portion of global pollution. Based on these needs, our team has created the Extendable Hanger. The extendable hanger is operated with a spring-driven system, comprising two springs, a lockable slide, telescoping arms, and a quick-release button. After being inserted into the collar of a shirt, the button on the neck of the device can be pressed, releasing the slide and the potential energy of the compressed springs in the arms of the hanger. The telescoping arms can then be retracted simply by pulling the slide back and locking it into the button at the top of the device. Our design leads to increased efficiency in the workplace, which saves time, energy, and money!