AU602702B2 - Clothes hanger - Google Patents

Description

h al 'PCT AU-AI-75117/87 WVORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION International Bureau El INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION P ftISfD nDff 'HWM TE' COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (51) Internalioi,il Patent Classifihation 4 ,)III rnati 11 1 Pd fteation Number: W 7 72 A47G 25/48, A47J 51/14 Alk.,3) International Publication Date: 3 December 1987 (03,12.87) (21) International Application Number: PCT/AU87/00 148 (22) International Filing Date: (31) Priority Application Number: (32) Priority Date: (33) Priority Country: 22 May 1987 (22.05.87) PH 06188 30 May 1986 (30,05,86)

AU

(81) Designated States: AU, DE (European patent), FR (European patent), GB (European patent), IT (European patent), US, Published With international se~arch report.

(71)(72) Applicants and Inventors: MEDLO BY, Mario [AU/ AU]; MEDLOBY, N, 'a MEDLOBY, Friedrich (AU/AU]; 24 arool Crescent, West Sunshine, VIC 3020 (AU).

(74) Agent; ROYAL, Malcolm, John; Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick, 367 Collins Street, M~elbourne, VIC 3000

(AU).

This domcrct cont.ains the amendments made unct r Section 49 and is cu:r c a for printimz 4FEB 1988

AUSTRALIAN

2 2 DEC 1987j PATENT OFFICE (54) Title: CLOTHES HANGER r li

IPA

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(57) Abstract A hanger for clothes including an elongated hanger niember, a hook member or other me-ans F, t connecting said hanger member to a support, two or more clipping means eaclh supported on said hanger member, each said clipping means comprising a pair of complementary Ilipping arrns and reilient means joining said clipping arms at one end to yieldably urge said arms together, said clipping arms deining tho.-ebetween at the other end a clothes gripping zone, and adia.

cent said resilient means a recess for receiving said largcr member, each said arm having an operating tab extending to the outside face of the complementary clipping a6m, such that when said operating tabs are pinched together the clipping arms move from a clothes gripping, position, where at said clothes grippinki zone the ,Arms are together, to a clothes releasino, position where at said cluthes gripping zone the arms are apart.

WO 87/07127 PCT/AU87/00148 CLOTHES HANGER The present invention relates to hangers for clothes and to clips which may be used in associaticn with those hangers.

Hangers for skirts, trousers and other clothing are widely used. Generally, these hangers include a bar on which is mounted a pair of clips which may be in the form of a peg, for example for holding the clothing. Such hangers are used for displaying goods for sale and for the storing of goods in the home.

The object of the present invention is to provide a hanger assembly that is simple to manufacture and assemble and which is easy to use.

The present invention provides a hanger for clothes including: an elongated hanger member, a hook member or other means for connecting said hanger member to a support, two or more clipping means each supported on said hanger member, each said clipping means comprising a pair of complimentary clipping arms and resilient means joining said clipping arms at one end to yieldably urge said arms together, said clipping arms defining therebetween at the other end to said resilient means, a clothes gripping zone, and adjacent said resilient means a recess for receiving said hanger

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25 member, each said clipping arm having an operating tab extending to the outside face of the complimentary clipping arm, such that when said operating tabs are pinched together thi clipping arms move from a clothes gripping position, where at said clothes gripping zone the arms are together, to a clothes releasing position where at said clothes gripping zone the arms are apart.

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i'i Jil i i PCT/AU87/00148 WO 87/07127 The present invention also provides a clip for use with the hanger, of the type described.

The elongated hanger member may be of any suitable material such as extruded plastic and be of any suitable cross-section. For example, the hanger member may be a strip of plastic or be of H, U or I shaped cross-section.

The arms of the' clips are preferably identical in size and shape so that when they are assembled it is not necessary to have "right" or "left" hand arms. The clipping arms may be made of any suitable plastic material that are preferably moulded. The resilient means may also be nade of plastics material and is generally in the form of a U-shaped member that extends around the ends of a pair of clipping arms to hold them together. Preferably the member protides not only a force to urge the arms into a closed gripping position but also to cause the arms to grip the elongated hanger member.

Preferably the clip is slidable along the elongated hanger member, but requires a force for movement.

Any suitable means may be provided to fix the elongated hanger member to a support. For example, a hook member may be provided for this purpose. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other means and mechanisms may be used. For example, the ends of the elongated member may rest on parallel bars.

25 The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment thereof. Details of the embodiment should not be taken as restricting the present invention.

In the drawings: FIGURE 1 shows in perspective a hanger for clothes.

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WO 87/07127 3. PCT/AU87/00148 FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of one clip.

FIGURE 3 is an end elevation of the clip.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the clip in its closed position and FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the clip in its open position.

The hanger illustrated includes an elongated hanger member 10 supported by a hook portion 11. The hook portion may be of any suitable size and shape and may be moulded or later affixed to the hanger member 10. In the embodiments shown there are a pair of clips 12 slidably mounted on the bar As will be shown in the Figures 2 to 5 the clips 12 may be comprised by a pair of clip arms 13 and 13' which are identical. The clip includes a separate U-shaped resilient member 14 which is located within recesses at one end of the arms 13 and 13'.

The arms 13 and 13' between them define a recess 15 in which the bar 10 can be located. It will be noted that in the preferred arrangement the resilient member 14 applies a force to the top end of the arms 13 and 13' so that at the recess they grip the bar 10. Thus, whilst the clip may be slidable along the bar 10 there is a yieldable force tending to keep the clip stationary. By this means unintended sliding of the clip is avoided.

At the other end the clip arms 13 and 13' preferably include a rib as at 16 and 16' to assist in the arms gripping clothing.

Preferably tabs 17 and 17' are provided on arms 13 and 13' respectively. The tabs extend from one side of the clip WO 87/07127 PCT/AU87/00148 to the other by the provision of an extension 18 and 18' that passes through a recess in the complimentary arm. This means that when the tabs 17 and 17' are pressed the arms move from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 5 where clothing may be removed therefrom. Thus, opening is by a pinching action generally between the fore finger and the thumb with the hand extending over the bar Thus it will be appreciated that the resilient member 14 serves the purposes of urging the arms into contact at 16 and 16', keeping the arms together at the opposite end and providing a retaining force on the bar 10. The arms 13 and 13' can be made identical so that it is unnecessary to mould two separate shapes and configurations of arm and this assists both in manufacture and in assembly. The arms 13 and 13' can be made of any suitable size, shape and configuration preferably to accommodate some material within the general area at It should be appreciated that many variations and modifications may be made to the above described arrangement and construction of parts without departing from the ambit of the present invention as defined in the claim annexed hereto. f

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Claims (7)

1. A hanger for clothes including an elongated hanger member, a hook member or other means for connecting said hanger member to a support, two or more clipping means each supported on said hanger member, each said clipping means comprising a pair of complimentary clipping arms and resilient means joining said clipping arms at one end to yieldably urge said arms together, said clipping arms defining therebetween at the other end a clothes gripping zone, and adjacent said resilient means a recess for receiving said hanger member, each said arm having an Operating tab extending to the outside face of the complimentary clipping arm, such that when said operating tabs are pinched together the clipping arms move from a clothes gripping position, where at said clothes gripping zone the arms are together, to a clothes releasing position where at said clothes gripping zone the arms are apart.

2. A hanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clipping arms are of moulded plastic material.

3. A hanger as claimed in either preceding claim, wherein each of said clipping arms is identical in size and shape. .J

4. A hanger as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said hanger member is of substantially constant cross section along at least a portion of its length and said clipping means are slidably mounted thereon.

A hanger as claimed in claim 4 wherein said resilient means urge said arms into contact with said hanger member to PCT/AU87/00148 WO 87/07127 apply a yieldable resistance to movement of said clipping means along said hanger member.

6. A hanger substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A clipping means for use in a hanger as claimed in any preceding claim- 1 i