AU623216B2

AU623216B2 - Indicia for a hanger

Info

Publication number: AU623216B2
Application number: AU48946/90A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Brendan Jon Lindsay
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-02-02
Filing date: 1990-01-31
Publication date: 1992-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 2010-01-31
Also published as: AU4894690A; NZ229999A

Description

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COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA SPATENTS ACT 1952 Form CQ'LILTE SPEC.IFICATION FOR OFFICE USE Short Title: Int. Cl: Appl ication Numbor: SLodged, Complete Specif ication- Lodged: Accepted: Lapsed: Published: Priority: Related Art: TO0 BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicent: BRENDAN JON LINDSAY Address of Applicant: 19 Newhaven Street, Ellerslie, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND Actual Inventor: Brendan Jon Lindsay A'iJ.ress for Service: GRIFFTTH H4ACK CO 71 YORK STREET SYDNEY NSW 2000 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: INDICIA FOR A HANGER The following statement is a full description of this ivention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 20748-D:CLC:RX 32u6A:tk -la- This invention relates to improvements in and relating to indicia for a hanger. It is known to provide a clothes hanger in which the size of clothing suspended from the hanger can be identified by the colour of a discrete hanger hook.

The use of such colour coded hooks can however result in a substantial body of colour being present wnich may not always be desirable as it may tend to dominate or confuse the colouring of the item of clothing for example.

Other colour coding arrangements have required tabi or Sclips having complex cross-sections to engage with particular Stypes of hangers.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an indicating means for a hanger which will overcome or at least obviate the above perceived disadvantage of colour coding arrangements available to the present time or will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Further objects of this invention would become apparent from the following description.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is thus provided an indicating means foy a hanger comprising a pair of display members each having external surfaces thereof adapted to provide a visual display of indicia provided thereon, respective inner surfaces of said members being substantially flat and spaced apart by a distance commensurate with that required to provide a slidable commensurate with that required to provide a slidable

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2 engagement with an area of a hanger, at least one of said inner surfaces having an outwardly directed projection to be engageable within an aperture provided in said hanger area.

Further aspects of this invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following description in which reference Is made to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1: shows very diagrammatically an indicating means for a hanger according to one possible embodiment of the invention; Figure 2: shows very diagrammatically an alternative embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3: shows an end perspective view of the embodiment in the invention of Figure 2; Figure 4: shows a still further embodiment of the 0 present invention very diagrammatically; Figure 5: shows a hanger very diagrammatically, together with a possible embodiment of the present invention provided thereon; Figure 6: shows very diagrammatically a further embodiment of a hanger in conjunction with a possible embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7: shows very diagrammatically a part of the reck portion of the hanger with an indicating means according to a still further embodiment of the invention but before location thereon; and 3 Figure 8: shows an end view of the indicating means of figure 7.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and firstly to Figure 1 an indicating means according to one possible embodiment of the invention is referenced generally by arrow 1.

The indicating means 1 is shown comprising a tab or clip having a first portion 2, in this example shown as being sub;tantially circular in shape. The portion 2 is shown provided with indicia 3, in the example shown, this being the indication of a particular size The size indicia may be provided in any suitable manner for example by embossing, engraving, stencilling or the like and may be proud of the surface 2, recessre therein or merely provided thereon in a suitable manner.

The portion 2 and/or the indicia 3 may be of any particular colour or colours and indeed may be required to be of a particular colour or colours which may be recognised in the trade and by customers as indicating a particular size of garment. In this regard the indicia 3 may comprise the colour of the surface of the portion 2 rather than any particular number, lettering or the like provided thereon as in the example shown.

The indicia 3 and the portion 2 may in the example shown be of the same or contrasting colours.

-r I It II ~r Ir~ rL rc 4 o0 o o y s 0i The tab 1 is shoun fitting on either side Gf the neck 4 of a hanger 5. A rib portion 6 of the hanger neck 4 is shown terminating short of the hanger bar 7, facilitating the slipping over the neck 4 of the tab 1.

The tab 1 may suitably be of a bifurcated design adapted to be slideably but securely accommodated on the neck 4. For this purpose the tab 1 may have locking means as described hereinafter with reference to Figures 7 and 8. Alternatively or additionally the tab 1 may have suitable gripping means to engage with the neck 4 to resist it being accidentially removed. This gripping may for example comprise a knurled or embossed surface for example.

The tab 1 in the embodiment of Figure 1 is shown with an end portion 8 provided with additional indicia indicated in the example shown by the word "name".

Suitably the portion 8 may comprise a substantially triangular or wedge shaped end portion with the additional indicia provided on the one ore more sloping slides thereby provided. By providing such one or mor sloping slides, the 20 additional indicia on the one or more portions 8 may thereby be particularly visible to a customer and this portion 8 may therefore feature prominently the name of a firm, company, trade mark and the like. In Figure 2, t- 10 is shown of a similar construction to tab 1 of Figure 1 except that the major indicia bearing portion 11 is shown of a substantially square or rectangular shape.

C C a a 0 or s T ~IL sU -L r 5 In Figure 3 which is an end view of tab 10 of Figure 2, the tab is shown having a triangular shaped end 12 providing two inclined faces 13 on which suitable additional indicia (not shown) can be featured. In Figure 3 the bifurcated body portion II is clearly shown with its pair of arms 14 spaced apart from one another and ready to engage either side of the neck portion 4 of the hanger In Figure 4, an embodiment of the invention is shown comprising a tab 15 having a substantially square or rectangular and bifurcated body portion 16 and with a wedge shaped end 17 providing the angle portion on which the additional indicia (not shown) can be provided. The angled portion of the wedge 17 is able to be larger for a given size of tab and the embodiment of Figure 4 may therefore have an advantage of greater visibility of the additional indicia over the twin angled faces provided by the triangular end portion 12 of the embodiment of Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings, a further embodiment of the invention shows, very diagrammatically, a hanger hook 24 of any suitable type leading down to a hanger bar 25 and with a web or flange 26 provided therebetween and on which a tab 27 according to any one of the embodiments of the present invention, may be fitted.

I c- Fc- i 6 In a further embodiment of the present invention as shown in Figure 6 an alternative form of hanger with a hook portion 28 leading down to a hanger bar portion 29 has extending therebetween one or more discrete arms or bars on which a tab 27 according to any embodiment of the present invention may be fitted.

Referring now to Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings a clothes hanger 300 (only the bottom portion being shown) has a neck portion 700 with an aperture or indent 400 provided therein.

A coding clip according to this further embodiment of the invention is referenced generally by arrow 900 and is shown by way of example only having again indicia in the form of a size number Again it is to be appreciated this is 0 15 by way of example only and that the coding indication could be by means of one or more colours or one or more labels or other marking devices or arrangements so that a particular size or f.ature of the clothing could be indicated.

A rear portion 600 of the clip 900 is shown in the form of a flange or the like which in use may again accommodate a coding indication and/or may be utilised for featuring advertising material, company name, trade mark or the like.

The main indicia surface area referenced generally by arrow 100 is shown provided with a projection 200 which in use is engagable within the recess or aperture 4 so as to -7hold the clip 900 in position on the hanger neck portion 700.

As seen particularly in Figure 8, the projection 200 in this embodiment is only provided on one side of the slot 800 between the bifurcated body portion 100 but alternatively at least a pair of projections 200 could be provided on either side of the slot 800, for example opposing one another.

As will be seen from Figure 7 and 8, the projection 200 in this embodiment is off-set or asymmetrical relative to the substantially central axis of the clip 900.

It will be appreciated that in this way the clip 900 could not be positioned on the neck portion 700, upside down, which would result in the indicia, if it was in the form of a letter or figure for example not being readily readable.

The flange portion 600 of the clip 900. as well as pro-riding a surface or surfaces where advertising indicia or the like may be provided, may also be useful in the facilitation of the gripping of the clip 900 for placement on to the neck portion 700.

It would be seen therefore that the present invention in 4 20 this embodiment provides for a speedy and effective positioning and securement of the clip 900 on the neck portion 700. It is to be appreciated that while a particular location of the clip 900 on the neck portion 700 has been shown in Figure 7, various other applications on the hanger r. _t 8 could be provided as appropriate. It is also emphasized that while in Figure 7 a rounded shape of clip 900 is illustrated, this is by of example only and any other suitable size and/or dimension of clip 900 could be used.

The clip of various embodiments in the invention above described may be formed by any suitable technique and from any suitable material. However it has been found that a moulded clip of a plastics material has benefit in respect of 0 strength and flexoility.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to specific components or integers of the invention having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof it is to be understood that modifications or improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An indicating means for a hanger comprising: a pair of display members each having external surfaces thtereof adapted to provide a visual

6. display of indicia provide~d thereon, respective inner surfaces of said members being substantially flat and spaced apart by a distance commensurate with that required to 7 provide a slidable engagement with an area of a hanger, at least one of said inner surfaces having an outwardly directed projection to be engageable within an aperture provided in 6 aid hanger area. 2. An indicating means as claimed in claim 1 wherein said one or more projections are provided asymretrically relativre to a substantially central BR. a 'tls f kaid indicating means so that said indicating means ran only be secured on said hanger area in one particular position. 3. An indicating means substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1, 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings. a 4. A combination of a hanger and said indicating means as claied in any one of the preceding claims, said hanger area comprising a neck portion adapted to be4 engageable with said indicating means. I 10 A combination as claimed in claim 4 wherein the neck portion of said hanger is in the form of a web portion extending between a hanger bar portion and a hook portion. 6. A combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein said 2ack port- n of said hanger comprises one or more bars or arms extending between a body portion and a hook i ,'tion of said hanger.

7. A combination of a hanger and indicating means as substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1, 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings. Dated this 7th day of February 1992. BRENDAN; JON LINDAY yT, it'tiient At torn ev GRFFITH! '!ACK CO. 681725004