AU2002100249B4

AU2002100249B4 - A hanger for an article

Info

Publication number: AU2002100249B4
Application number: AU2002100249A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Gregory Hay
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-03-28
Filing date: 2002-03-28
Publication date: 2002-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 2010-03-28
Also published as: WO2003082061A1; JP2005521445A; AU2002100249A4; EP1489952A1; EP1489952A4

Description

2 A HANGER FOR AN ARTICLE Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hanger for an article.

Background of the Invention When an article, such as a clothing accessory, is offered for sale in a shop, it is often hung on a rod or hook by a hanger. A variety of hangers are known in the prior art and they typically comprise a portion that is arranged to permit hanging of the hanger on the rod or hook and a portion that is arranged to hold the clothing accessory. For example, the portion that is arranged to hold the clothing accessory may comprise an elongate member having at one end a finger to prevent accidental disengagement of the clothing accessory from the holder.

However, the finger also makes it time-consuming to attach the clothing accessory to the hanger as it prevents the clothing accessory from sliding onto the member in an easy manner.

All hangers known in the prior art are shaped such that it is either relatively complicated to attach the article to the hanger or it is relatively easy to accidentally disengage the article from the hanger.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a hanger for an article, the hanger comprising: a holder adapted to hold the article, a cover for covering a portion of the article and being predominantly constructed of a rigid material, the cover having at least two cover elements which are hingedly 45280 3 connected, the cover elements being movable between an open position and an operative position, the holder being connected to, or integrally formed with, one of the cover elements and disposed inwardly from that cover element such that, in the operative position, the holder is positioned between the cover elements and, in use, likelihood of dislodgment of the article from the holder is reduced and a supporting means connected to the cover or to the holder to permit hanging of the hanger.

As the cover elements are movable into an open condition, it is relatively easy to attach the clothing accessory to the holder which may be provided in form of a simple straight member. In the operative position the cover elements reduce the likelihood of dislodgment.

The likelihood of dislodgment may be or may not be reduced by clamping the article between the at least two cover elements or between at least one of the cover elements and the holder.

Preferred Features of the Invention The hanger preferably is predominantly constructed of a plastics material.

The hanger preferably comprises a label. The label preferably is integrated with the hanger and most preferably is an in-mould labelled label.

The at least two cover elements preferably are hingedly connected and one of the cover elements may comprise a window.

The at least two cover elements may comprise a snapshut lock that locks the cover elements when the at least two cover elements are arranged in the operative position.

45280 4 The cover preferably comprises substantially flat areas which may be used for labelling or for attaching bar codes.

If the hanger comprises a label, the label preferably is attached to the hanger using in-mould labelling. This optional feature has the advantage that the step of moulding the plastics material and the step of labelling are combined into one step which reduces production costs.

The present invention also provides a process of producing the hanger for the article, the process comprising the steps of: moulding a plastics material to form the hanger and, simultaneously, in-mould label a label to the hanger.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a perspective representation of a hanger for an article according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 shows another perspective representation of the hanger for an article according to the embodiment of the present invention and Figure 3 shows a further perspective representation of the hanger for an article according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment 45280 5 Referring to Figures 1 to 3, an embodiment of the present invention is now described. Figure 1 shows a hanger 10 comprising a cover 11 which is illustrated in an open condition. The cover comprises a first cover element 12 and second cover element 14 which are hingedly connected. The second cover element 14 comprises a rim The first cover element 12 comprises an edge 16 that is shaped to receive the rim 15 when the first cover element 12 and the second cover element 14 are arranged in an operative position to cover a portion of an article. The rim 15 and the edge 16 form a snap-shut lock. The first cover element comprises a holder 18 for holding the article, the holder being positioned over a window opening 17 in the first portion 12. A supporting means in the form of a hook 20 is connected to the first cover element 12.

Figure 2 shows another perspective view of the hanger and illustrates the cover 11 in an open condition with an article in the form of a clothing accessory, in this example a tie 30, held by the holder 18.

Figure 3 shows a further perspective view of the hanger 10 and illustrates the cover 11 in a closed condition with the tie 30 held by the holder 18.

The hanger 10 is composed of a recyclable plastics material and the outer face of the second cover element 14 preferably comprises a label (not shown). In this case the hanger is produced by injecting the molten plastics material into a mould with the label being attached to one side of the mould. When the plastics material hardens, the label adheres to the plastics material and forms an integral part of the hanger.

Although the invention has been described with reference to particular examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be 45280 6embodied in many other forms. For example, the holder may not be connected to the cover, but may be a separate part.

Further, the support means may not be connected to with the cover, but may alternatively be connected to the hanger.

45280

Claims

1. A hanger for an article, the hanger comprising: a holder adapted to hold the article, a cover for covering a portion of the article and being predominantly constructed of a rigid material, the cover having at least two cover elements which are hingedly connected, the cover elements being movable between an open position and an operative position, the holder being connected to, or integrally formed with, one of the cover elements and disposed inwardly from that cover element such that, in the operative position, the holder is positioned between the cover elements and, in use, likelihood of dislodgment of the article from the holder is reduced and a supporting means connected to the cover or to the holder to permit hanging of the hanger.

2. The hanger as claimed in claim 2 wherein the at least two cover elements comprise a snap-shut lock that locks the cover when the at least two cover elements are in the operative position.

3. The hanger as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising an in-mould labelled label.

4. A process of producing the hanger for an article as claimed in claim 3, the process comprising the steps of: moulding a plastics material to form the hanger and, simultaneously, in-mould label a label to the hanger. 45280 8 A hanger for an article as substantially herein described with reference to the description and the drawings. DATED this TENTH day of JANUARY 2003 GREGORY HAY By his Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK 45280