DE19719674A1 - Method and system for color coding the sizes of hangers and method for reusing hangers with size information - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of reuse of garment hangers comprises shipping hangers to clothing manufacturers, assembling the hangers with clothing and indicia relating to the size, sending the hangers and garments to a store for sale, removing some of the hangers from the sold clothing and returning them to a reuse centre where the size indicia is removed and the hangers sent once more to clothing manufacturers. A system for colour coding the sizes of garments to be sold in a store is also disclosed (see Figure 6) wherein a uniform colour sizing code is used throughout the store so that a particular colour is always used for a particular size designation (eg S, M, L or equivalent waist and chest sizes) throughout different lines.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of hangers, more specifically on a process for reusing hangers with attached Size information. The present invention further relates to the field of Display of clothes in retail stores and see a procedure and one System for hanging and color coding clothes that are on display to help customers find clothing that fits their physiology fits.

Articles of clothing typically have one or more labels located somewhere are inside the garment. The label usually contains the size, the fabric composition and details about the manufacturer, as well as information regarding the country of origin and care instructions. There is also a label on the Item of clothing attached that shows the price of the goods and the size. The label often provides additional information regarding the name of the store, the manufacturer and possibly a barcode on it by scanning this information can play.

In some cases, a specialty retailer or clothing manufacturer brings another one Label on the garment, which has a partially colored representation to the Sort according to a property of the garment, such as style, color or lighten size. For example, the colored section of the display can be blue to show a women's size 6, green to display a women's size 8, blue, to indicate men's size 44 or green to indicate men's size 48. If such information is on the label attached to a garment is attached, the customer or retailer does not have to label everyone Look through the item of clothing to appropriately color the mark search.  

However, the labels are often either on the front, back or in the sleeve of the Garment attached, and are therefore neither for the retailer nor for the Customers easily visible. The retailer or customer must be the individual Browse items of clothing from the stand to the labels with the to find relevant information. If the garment is not on a stand is hung, but folded in piles (as is typically the case with sweatshirts and jeans happens), the labels are often for a more pleasing display inside the Garment placed, which to find the appropriate information Garment must be put apart.

Furthermore, there is practically no uniformity among the manufacturers and / or Retailers regarding the assignment of the desired property to the Clothing. For example, the color blue from a manufacturer or Retailers size 6 but another size 12. Thus the color assignment did not help the customer if he had different departments visited the store. Furthermore, blue can mean "big" in a men's jacket, but "medium" for men's casual pants.

For displaying clothes on hangers in a neat and for For the retailer's customers, it is often desirable to have a display tool to be attached to the hanging bracket in a position suitable for the retailer's customer is visible when the hanging bracket is hung on a stand. The display means identify properties of the garment that is hung on the hanger, such as size, quality, color, manufacturing dates or patterns.

Providing an easily visible size indication on a clothes hanger will by retailers as an addition to a clothes hanger he wishes. To accommodate the various types of hanging brackets used in industry are available, different display means (information means) in different Shapes, sizes and materials developed. In the same way, hanging brackets were used Recording various types of display means developed.  

Australian Patent No. 638,436 and the corresponding US-A-5,388,354 to the Applicant's names of the present invention disclose a low profile Plastic molding indicator for a clothes hanger that is limited Modification of the hook of the suspension bracket required to securely attach the Allow display means at the top of the hook where it is most visible is. The display means also serves to facilitate sorting in one predetermined direction to automatically handle and attach the To enable display means on the hanging bracket, as in US-A-5 272 806 and US A-5 285 566 by the same applicant as the present Invention were made.

Such hangers and display means are typically used only once and then either sent as garbage to a landfill or to a recycling center where the plastic hangers are granulated into pellets, which are then sold again.

Meanwhile, landfills are taking up more and more space and recycling is often an issue costly company, which despite the need to preserve the environment this possibility becomes uneconomical. Furthermore, companies don't want products from recycled plastic material either for safety reasons (e.g. at Food containers) or aesthetic reasons.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a uniform system and a method for color coding a property of an article of clothing create that then by the customer and / or the retailer for distinction different items can be used.

According to the invention is a method and a system for color coding of Clothing sizes are provided, which are showcased in retail clothing stores that have multiple directions of clothing for multiple customer groups, so that the customers from a department showcasing a clothing direction to one other department in the retail store that has a different clothing  Showcases direction, and can easily find clothing items that correspond to their physiology, which is identified by the same color code.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for Color coding that includes the following steps:

• (a) Classification of individual items of clothing offered for purchase in several styles of clothing,
• (b) Divide each clothing style into several graded sizes several common size labels in all directions of clothing occur,
• (c) Identification of the graded sizes in different clothing Directions chosen by a customer who chooses clothing for that same customer physiology is suitable,
• (d) Assign a common color code to each graded one Size designation that was identified in step (c) to a corresponding group graduated sizes that belong to a specific customer physiology, and
• (e) Display of the individual items of clothing on hangers with a color-coded size cap attached to it, the color of the size Cap corresponds to the assigned common color code.

Thus, the customer can flaunt a department that has a clothing direction represents, move to another department within the store, the other clothing Flaunts directions, and finds clothing items that match his or her physiology correspond, which is identified by the same common color code.

The method according to the invention in particular creates a possibility for color coding the sizes of individual clothing directions, such as women's clothing, Men's clothing, women's clothing sized according to the waist, by the waist divided men's clothing, oversize clothing, children's and toddler clothing, Youth clothing and underwear.  

The clothing is divided according to size descriptions that are appropriate for the individual clothing Styles are uniform. The graded sizes are based on large areas Studies of customer physiologies so that when identifying the graded Size for an item of clothing that is sized by the waist size is the identified size of the graded size of an article of clothing is allocated for the same customer physiology profile by a breast size is classified in terms of size.

Common sizes are S (small), M (medium), L (large) and XL (very large). The following are less common but are often used Size designations XS (very small), P / S (slim / small), S / M (small / medium), M / L (medium / large), XXL (extra very large) and XXXL (extra-extra-very large).

On some occasions, a more accurate sizing is needed and that Generally common size labels can be found in numerical size labels such as for example 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20, or 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 etc. be implemented. For a clothing line for children, the size designations 3 Months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 18 months and 24 months.

A common color code becomes each graded size label to form a uniform group of graded sizes assigned to a specific customer Physiology profile are peculiar. The uniform color codes become easy from 16 distinguishable colors chosen. In a preferred embodiment, the Colors selected from: lemon yellow, pink, aqua, red, tan, yellow, light blue, green, Sky blue, purple, olive, royal blue, orange, yellow green, burgundy, brown, apricot, Gold, purple, camouflage, beige and smoky gray. The only colors that are in Repeating graded size labels are in clothing directions repeated that are not borne by the same customer, such as at a children's / toddler clothing line and an oversize clothing line.

For example, the size XXS, "newborn" and "3 months" in different Clothing lines can be used as size labels. However, all of them point  Garments about the same size and therefore fit children with the same Physiology. By displaying all of these individual items of clothing Hanging brackets with a pink size cap on it indicates the color pink that this Garment is adapted to a special children's physiology.

The same color name, for example children's clothing in smaller sizes, can can also be used in other clothing lines such as women's clothing a garment with a smaller size in this line, such as XXS, size Denote 3 and size 28 waist. Thus, the buyer can move from one department to another move to another department of the store and based on the color coding of the Find sizes of clothing items that are adapted to a specific physiology.

In other words, a female customer can correspond to one average physiological examination profile from one area to one move to another area in the store, different clothing lines, such as Casual clothing, costumes, dresses, defects and underwear of various Browse manufacturers or designers and find the size that fits their physiology profile corresponds as it is by the same color code in each department for different Clothing lines is identified. When the same customer makes purchases for others, he can still use the same color code to find the garments for others use.

The system according to the invention creates a color coding for the sizes of clothing, that are showcased in retail clothing stores that have multiple clothing lines for multiple customer groups, with each customer group having multiple individual ones Customers with the same physiology, whereby the system has a uniform color Size code provides to the individual customer when finding the Items of clothing in different clothing lines in different departments to help the store, which is adapted to their physiology, the system comprising:

• (a) several individual items of clothing to be sold, whereby each item is divided into one of several clothing lines (clothing direction),  
• (b) multiple graded sizes for each of the clothing directions, with the graded sizes have several common size labels that are common to all of the Directions occur
• (c) a common code group with the same code identification for Identification of the graded sizes in different clothing directions be chosen by a customer who selects clothes that are for the same customer- Physiology is suitable
• (d) multiple color-coded index caps, each of the color codes being one Common code group is assigned, step (c) has been identified to a to form an adapted group of color-coded index caps, graded sizes identified that is specific to a specific customer physiology,
• (e) several types of hangers for displaying individual ones Items of clothing, each of the hangers being one of the color-coded index caps the color of the index cap of the assigned common code group corresponds to

whereby a customer moves away from an area displaying a clothing direction can move to another area in the retail store, the other Flaunts clothing directions, and finds clothing items that match his Correspond to physiology and are displayed on hangers by the same index cap color can be identified.

The graded sizes are based on large-scale customer physiology studies, see above that in identifying the graded size for a garment that size is identified by the waist size, the identified size is the same for the graded size of an item of clothing that is sized by Breast size of the same customer physiology profile is divided. Can continue according to the invention a customer according to an average physiology Scan profile from one department to another department within the store move, multiple clothing styles such as casual pants, costumes, See through dresses, coats and underwear and find the size that suits you its physiological profile and the same color-coded index cap in each department is identified for the different clothing directions.  

The colors used by the color-coded index caps become approximately 16 easily distinguishable colors, such as those described above. Typically, each color indicates a different size. According to the The present system optically shows each color-coded index cap one of the common size assignments. So the customer first identifies the size of the on the hanging hanger by the color of the index cap and then checks the size using the size label on it.

The color-coded index caps can be removed from the hangers for storage to reuse the hangers with a different style of clothing to enable. Accordingly, the system according to the present invention furthermore a device for removing the color-coded index caps from the Hangers on.

The index caps can be automatically attached to the hanging bracket. Therefore points the system according to the invention furthermore an automatic device for attaching the color-coded index caps on the hanging bracket.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for To reuse hanging brackets that have size specifications are detachably attached to them, with the plastic hanging brackets leading to the Display of garments used in retail stores, can be reused several times before they are sent as waste or be recycled.

More precisely, the method according to the invention has:

• (a) Send multiple hangers to multiple clothing manufacturers different geographical locations,
• (b) sending multiple detachable size display means to the multiple Clothing manufacturers in multiple geographic locations, with the removable size Display means are detachably attached to the first hanging bracket,  
• (c) Assembling a hanging bracket from several hanging brackets with one Garment and one of the removable size display means, the size- Display means the size of the garment and the size display means is preferably automatically attached to the hanging bracket,
• d) packing several hangers with clothes hanging on them and applied size display means and then sending the packages to one Retailer exit to showcase and sell the garments,
• (e) Decrease a defined percentage of the hanging brackets with those on them attached size indicators from the garments, if the Garments are sold, and return the defined percentage to Hanging bracket with size display means to a reuse center,
• (f) removing the size display means from the hanging brackets on the Reuse center and checking the hanging bracket to select several To receive hanging brackets for reuse, taking down the size Display means of the hanging bracket is preferably carried out automatically, and
• (g) Add newly manufactured (cast) hanging brackets to the selected ones Hangers to restore and repeat the first number of hangers step (a) to recycle the reusable hangers.

The method of the present invention is particularly aimed at environmental protection plastic consumption by reducing the total number of plastic Reduce clothes hangers.

The first number of hanging hangers is made to go to various clothing manufacturers to be shipped to different geographical locations around the world. According to a preferred embodiment, batches of removable sizes are Display means corresponding to the hanging brackets in the first number of hanging brackets, cast from plastic and then shipped to the various clothing manufacturers. The batches are typically manufactured in terms of size and color (cast) to batches of color-coded size indicators in several to produce different colors. According to a preferred embodiment the batches are bundled in batches on color-coded size display means and  automatically attached to the hanging bracket. To ensure a uniform coloring of the Color-coded size display means can ensure the size display means be manufactured in a single manufacturing location. Each size indicator is on attached to a hanger to which a garment hangs, so that the size of the Garment corresponds to the size display means.

Groups of hanging brackets with size indicators attached to them and on them Hanged clothes are made according to a retailer's order put together and then the batch of hanging brackets with size indicators and clothing to a retailer or a retailer- Resale center for display and sale of clothing sent. Such garments are ready to load, which means that the garment in the truest sense of the word from the packaging directly to the stand Display can be hung. So a lot of work of sorting the back room, Sizing and price labeling avoided. Since the garments in the Store already hung on hanging brackets will be the number of in a store required hanging bracket drastically reduced. It should be noted that when the hanging bracket with clothing and size indicators to a retailer distribution center The center then sends the appropriate number of such items to the suitable retailer.

According to the present method, since the clothes in the retail store are sold, the hanging brackets with the sizes Display means removed from the clothing and separately for return packed into a reuse center. The number of times to reuse sorted out suspension bracket is a definable percentage that takes into account that some Customers want them to hang a hanger at the point of sale and that the suspension bracket is accidentally damaged, thrown away or kept in a shop will. According to a preferred embodiment, the definable percentage is the hanging brackets, which are sorted out for reuse, 65% to 90%. It was determines that about 10% to 35% of the hangers of the first number of hangers cannot be reused.  

At the reuse center, the size display means are automatically from the hanging brackets removed and the hanging brackets are damaged or other impurities checked. The undamaged and not contaminated Hangers are selected for reuse. About 10 to 30% of the declining hangers are not reusable, which means that according to a preferred embodiment, the number of hanging brackets for Reusable, about 50% to 80% of the first number Hanging brackets represents the originally manufactured and made to the clothing manufacturers were sent. In a preferred embodiment, they are not Reuse sorted hangers ground into pellets and either recycled or sold as plastic scrap. According to a preferred embodiment the recycled plastic material is ground, filled in a funnel and placed in a pipe Extruder melted to form a melted plastic material which is then in a casting machine for forming recycled plastic hangers for use is injected at retail customers. The customer hanging brackets then go to the Retail store back for sale.

The hanging brackets that are chosen for reuse become too Clothing manufacturers sent back and with new hangers Repetition of the present process packed in batches. According to a statistical Medium, a hanging bracket can be reused 2 to 6 times before it is unusable becomes. Typically, the hanging brackets will be returned to the Clothing manufacturers cleaned for reuse.

Since less than 100% of the hanging brackets are reused, the number of Hangers that are reused are filled with newly manufactured hangers to ensure a constant, sufficient replenishment. According to the preferred embodiment, the replenishment on selected hangers with approximately 20 to 50% of the number of the first number of hanging brackets replenished. Meanwhile the number of total hanging brackets that are manufactured is less compared to in the event that there is no reuse.  

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the color-coded display means reused. Accordingly, the present Procedure continues the steps of sorting out the from the hanging brackets removed size display means according to the color. If different sizes Assignments are used for the same color-coded size display means then a second sorting according to size must also take place. The sorted sizes Display media are then packed in batches and sent to the clothing manufacturers Sent on hanging brackets. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises the step of cleaning the color-coded Size display means.

The foregoing and other features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1 a hook of a hanger bracket mounted thereon with color-coded size cap that is useful in the practice of the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 'of FIG. 1, the hook hanger-combination representing the internal structure of Fig. 1,

Fig an illustration of a common color codes of the different sub-groups of the plurality of graduated sizes is assigned. 3, as has been found by extensive investigations customer,

Fig. 4 is an illustration of a set of common size assignments, which is a subset of the plurality of graduated sizes according to the present invention,

Fig. 5 is an illustration of a family of hanger-patterns which can be used throughout a retail clothing store, to provide the articles of clothing for sale uniformly displayed and the display of the color codes of the present invention,

Figure 6 (a), 6 (b). And 6 (c) are three figures, taken together, represent an example of a color coding scheme according to the invention represent,

Fig. 7 is an isometric view of a mechanism of color-coded index caps and the mounting bracket of the present invention is used in the automatic mounting,

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 7, illustrating the assembly of a color-coded index cap to a mounting bracket according to the present invention,

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of a mechanism that is used in disassembling the color-coded index caps from the hangers for reuse of the mounting bracket,

Figs. 10 (a), 10 (b) and 10 (c) show in this order the operation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 9 in which the hangers and the color-coded index caps are disassembled, and

FIG. 11 shows a schematic illustration for carrying out the method for reusing the suspension brackets with size display means.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and to the embodiments shown in FIGS . 1 and 2, there is shown a hanger bracket 2 with a color-coded size cap 18 thereon which is used in the practice of the present invention. The hook 2 of a cast plastic clothes hanger is shown in a simplified form and can be hung on a rod or other holding device. In practice, the hook normally has reinforcing ribs 12 a, 12 b on its circumference. It should be noted that the body and the clips of the suspension bracket are not shown in FIGS . 1 and 2. The structure of the body and clips of the hanging bracket can have various configurations as long as the hanging bracket performs its function of hanging clothes on it. In Fig. 5 are different, for example hanger types shown, which can accommodate a wide variety of clothing types. The hanging bracket shown in FIG. 5 has a device for attaching a color-coded size cap 18 .

The color-coded size cap 18 , which is attached to the hanging bracket, is shown in more detail in FIG. 2. As shown therein, the size cap has side walls 20 , 22 that have at least one holding opening 24 , 26 , which are described, for example, in Australian patent 638 436 and US-A-5 388 354, which are hereby incorporated by reference the present description is referenced in full. The openings 24 , 26 define passages which facilitate the stacking of the display means 18 with other display means before being attached to a hanging bracket.

The display means are held on the hook by a display means attachment mechanism. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hook 2 has a flange 14 which defines an upper region 16 which, according to a preferred exemplary embodiment, is flattened and is somewhat larger in its circumferential dimensions than the lowermost section of a display means 18 . An upstanding web 4 extends in the middle away from the upper region 16 of the hook 2 . The web 4 can have the same shape as the cavity of the display means 18 in order to be received within this cavity. As an alternative, the web 4 can be formed so that it follows the normal contour of the hook of the suspension bracket.

The web 4 has a one-piece molded display means attachment device 28 . According to the present exemplary embodiment, the display means attachment device has a central opening 6 , from the upper section of which an elastic locking hook 8 extends downward, which ends in a transversely extending section 30 , which is designed to enter one of the openings 24 or 26 engages in the side wall of the display means 18 as shown in FIG .

Since the locking hook 8 is narrow and is elastically connected to the web 4, it is easily bent in the transverse direction by means of a tip or a pin which is inserted into the opening 24 or 26 which engages in the transversely extending section 30 to move the transversely extending section 30 in the direction of the plane of the web to open the opening 24 or 26 and to enable the display means to be removed from the web 4 . This process can be carried out in a simple and quick manner with little or no damage to the display means 18 or the fastening device 28 . Nevertheless, while the transversely extending portion 30 remains in the position shown in Fig. 2, the display means 18 is fixedly connected to the web 4 and will withstand all the usual handling operations to which the hanging bracket is subject in daily use.

In order to improve the flexibility of the locking hook 8 , it can be reduced in thickness as shown at 200 in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Other devices for attaching display means to hanging brackets can are used, for example those as described in US-A-5 388 354, the display means also being held on the hook by means of at least one stop that extends from the hook and into an opening in the Side wall of the display means engages. However, if the display means by a Stop is held, the display means can be easily from the hanging bracket removed and either the hanging bracket or the display means can be removed during the Operation can be damaged.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the size cap has a rectangular structure, as can be seen for example in FIGS. 1 and 3, and is provided at the upper end of the hook. However, other shapes and designs of size caps can be used in accordance with the present invention.

The display means 18 of the preferred embodiment has been particularly well received by retailers and customers in a method and system for color coding sizes of clothing at display, which is advantageous in practice in practicing the present invention.

In the present method and system, individual articles of clothing are made according to divided into one direction, such as men's clothing, women's clothing, Children's and children's clothing, youth clothing, girls clothing, boys clothing, Underwear, men's clothing that is sized according to waist, Women's clothing that is sized according to waist, slim-fitting clothing and oversized clothing. Each direction of clothing then continues according to the type of clothing. For example, the classification includes the womens direction Dresses, shirts, blouses, skirts, casual pants, costumes, pullovers, coats, jackets, shorts, bras and swimwear.

Each of these clothing directions will then come in several graded sizes with several common size labels divided into all clothing styles appear. Common sizes are XXS (very-very-small), XS (very-small), P / S (slim / small), S (small), S / M (small / medium), M (medium), M / L (medium / large), L (large), L / XL (large / very large), XL (very large), XXL (very-very-large) and XXXL (very very-very-large). S, M. L and XL of these names are universally available. Each of these common size labels designates clothing, the customers of one is adapted to specific physiology.

In some situations, especially when the clothing is more tailored, a more accurate sizing is needed and the sizing will be by numbers such as 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 18 and 20; 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13; or 3/4, 5/6, 7/8, 9/10, 11/12, 13/14 and 15/16 designated in different Directions of clothing occur.

The special graded sizes in different clothing directions that pass through a customer who is looking for clothing that is suitable for a specific physiology  is then identified and a color code is graded each Size label assigned to a matched group of graded sizes form that is specific to a special customer profile. The clothes are on one Hanging bracket with a color-coded size cap on display, so that the Color of the size cap corresponds to the assigned color code.

For example, in the color coding system shown in Figure 3, the color blue has been assigned seven different size labels: L, M / L, 24 M, 9, 9/10, 24 W and 38. As indicated by the sizes matched in this group, shows the color blue on loose-fitting clothes. For women's clothing, the sizing that is typically used in different clothing directions is L or M / L and 9 or 9/10 to indicate a specific physiology profile. A woman of this physiology, using the color coding method and system according to the present invention, knows that she should look for clothes that are hung on a hanger that has a blue size cap to find clothes that match her physiology.

For children's clothing, the size would be either "big" or 24 months what each identified garments that give a child a special physiology is adjusted. So the customer could then look for items of clothing that hang on hangers hang with a blue size cap to find suitable clothing.

It should be noted that the same color, which designates the larger-sized clothing in the women's clothing direction, is used to designate the larger-sized clothing in the children's clothing direction. This system can be maintained in garments, which are divided in size after waist, for example, the color and continues to display blue 38 waist at the Oversize clothing 24 W, wherein the oversize clothes direction of the size of 16 W runs to 26 W. This system enables the buyer to move from one department to another in a retail store and to find items of clothing that are adapted to a specific physiology based on the color coding of the sizes. Furthermore, the same customer can make purchases for others, knowing only the basic characteristics of the physiology of the future wearer.

Fig. 4 shows a group of conventional size designation, according to the present invention showing a subset of the plurality of graduated sizes, wherein:

labeled lemon yellow XXL,
designated purple XL or L / XL,
blue denotes L or M / L,
denoted green M,
marked yellow S,
labeled pink XXS.

A different color denotes each graded size in this universal Sizing system. It should be noted that there are two size labels for purple and blue there. This is possible because a single manufacturer of clothing typically not both sizing shapes for the same type of clothing will use. However, both sizing shapes can be combined into a single one Classification for clothing can be found. By labeling all the clothes that one A person with a special size fits, with a single color the customer knows easy that he has to look for the colored size chart when he shows provided clothing.

FIG. 5 shows a family of hanging bracket patterns that can be used in a retail clothing store to uniformly display clothing items for sale and to represent the color codes in accordance with the present invention. The hangers 300 , 302 and 304 are typically used to hang outerwear such as shirts, blouses, costumes, defects, jackets, dresses, nightgowns, romper suits, overalls, swimwear and sweaters. The hanger 300 , which is 31 cm (12 inches) long, can be used to hang children's and toddler outerwear, the 36 cm (14 inch) long hanger 302 can be used to hang children's outerwear, and the hanger 304 which is 44 cm (17 inches) long can be used to hang up adult outerwear. The hangers 306 , 308 and 310 are typically used to hang legwear such as casual pants, cotton pants and skirts. The hanger 306 , which is 8 inches long, can be used to hang children's and toddler legwear, the 25 cm (10 inch) long hanger 308 can be used to hang children's legwear, and the 31 cm (12 inch) long Hanger 310 can be used to hang adult legwear. The hanger 312 can be used to hang up bras, shorts, briefs and swimwear. A 25 cm (10 inch) long hanger body is preferred to accommodate a variety of different sizes. The hanging bracket 314 is a frame hanging bracket that can be used for hanging individual pieces and combinations for children and toddlers. The different lengths of the hangers 300 to 310 accommodate practically all different clothing directions from toddlers to oversizes.

Each of these hangers has a display means attachment mechanism as described above to display the color-coded size caps at the top of the hook as described above. Typically, a retail store uses different different hanger patterns depending on the type of clothing and the manufacturer. Limiting the number of hanging bracket types used in a store to approximately 8 different patterns saves extremely costs, and the display is further standardized, which results in a more pleasing presentation. It should be noted, however, that the 8 patterns of FIG. 5 represent a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Any hanger with a display attachment mechanism suitable for receiving a color-coded size cap can be used in the method and system of the present invention.

Fig. 6 (a), 6 (b) and 6 (c) show an example of a color coding scheme according to the present invention, which corresponds to the size Paging needs of all clothing and departments in a large retail store.

At the far left in FIG. 6 (a), line AG denotes several size classifications which are suitable for several directions of clothing, as universal / large / multi, child or toddler, metric, multiple sizes, oversizes and waist sizes . It should be noted that more than one size label can be found in a single clothing direction. For example, women's clothing can be divided into universal sizes (line A), metric sizes (line D) (typically odd numbers, even numbers or multiple sizes), oversizes (line F) or waist sizes (line G).

To the right of each class label in each column is a series of graded ones Size labels are shown for each class. The size designations are based on large-scale customer physiology examinations, so that when identifying the graded size for an item of clothing by a waist size is sized, the identified size is the same as the identified Size of an item of clothing that is determined by breast size or universal size for that same customer physiology profile is divided in terms of size.

The special graded sizes in different clothing directions, which are selected by a customer for a special physiology profile, are shown in each column, with each column being assigned a color. Each color designates a special size that is adapted to a customer of a special physiology profile. The color-coded size cap attached to the hanger (such as one of the hangers shown in FIG. 5) from which the garment is hung can be used to determine which clothing is selected to display a balanced group of graded sizes when displayed that is common to a specific customer physiology profile.

About 16 different colors are needed to differentiate between all different sizes. A color family is shown in FIG. 6 in columns 1-20: lemon yellow (Pantone 101 U), pink (Pantone 189 U), aqua (Pantone 326 U), red (Pantone 192 U), yellow-brown (Pantone 145 U), yellow (Pantone 121 U), light blue (Pantone 306 U), green (Pantone 340 U), sky blue (Pantone 2975 U), light purple (Pantone 2715 U), olive (Pantone 398 U), blue (Pantone 285 U), orange (Pantone 165 U), dark purple (Pantone 2593 U), light green (Pantone 375 U) and burgundy (Pantone 246 U). Colors can be reused in different styles of clothing, with sizes not overlapping, but typically denoting either a large, small, or medium size.

For example, in the present embodiment, it should be noted that the colors yellow-brown and sky-blue when designating a physiology profile more than once were used. Using for example the color aqua (columns 3 and 18) sizes 2 and waist size 29 indicate a physiology profile, whereas XXXL, 15 and 15/16 describe a completely different physiology customer profile. It exists thus no overlap in the directions of clothing by individual customers be searched between these two size groups. The size 4 is by called the color aqua. Again, this size does not overlap with either of the other two two size groups, which reuses the color in the toddler direction can be. It should also be noted that size 4T is one of the largest toddler Sizes is what the use of color in the direction with its larger sizes- Brings with it. If not one color to denote multiple sizes in overlapping directions of clothing is used, so there will be no color be used to designate one or more common sizes such as S, M or L is used.

Meanwhile, a color is typically used only once to designate a single one Physiology profile used. More than 70% of all size caps fall under five Colors that indicate the physiology profile for the following universal sizes: XS, S, M and XL and the corresponding size classes indicated by the line. To improve the visibility of these size caps for the most common sizes, these size caps will be the brightest and basic colors of red, yellow, green, blue and assigned purple.  

For example, blue denotes a large size in accordance with the present exemplary embodiment, as was explained above with reference to FIG. 3. Yellow denotes the size small. According to this physiology profile for a women's clothing direction, the sizes S, 5, 5/6 and waist size 32 are. Clothing labeled with these sizes fits all women with a special physiology profile. Sizes S and 12M also fit a child with a special physiology profile and size 20W is a small, loose-fitting piece of clothing. Accordingly, attaching a yellow size cap to the hangers on which each of these garments is suspended allows a customer to classify all of these different garments from different clothing directions and from many different manufacturers that fit a particular physiology identified as "small" . Thus, the customer can move from one department to another, see through different clothing directions from casual pants, pullovers, coats, costumes, underwear etc. and find out the size that is suitable for the special physiology profile of the customer is. The customer can see for himself that the color indicates a special size profile in other clothing directions, such as a children's or men's clothing.

By attaching a color-coded size cap to the top of each Hanging brackets will help the customer find all items of clothing the different departments of. on a special physiology profile different clothing directions are tailored, regardless of whether the Clothing is sized universally or metrically. This also helps that Seller in assisting the customer in looking for a special one Garment either on the ground floor of the store as well as in the back of the Store where more clothing is stored when refilling one Clothes rack, organizing a clothes rack of the appropriate size or at Reorganize a clothes rack in size at the end of a day.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the color-coded caps and the garments put together at the place of manufacture and already reach the shop on the hanging bracket. This means that the real  Compilation of the color-coded size caps and a piece of clothing before Shipping of the garment from the manufacturer takes place. The garment reached the retail store ready for sale. The replenishment of suspended and color-coded Garments only need to be removed from the box and onto the stand to be hanged. Thus, the majority of the typical backroom work in Retail stores eliminated, making the system of the invention extremely becomes cost effective. According to a preferred embodiment, the attachment the color-coded caps on the hanging bracket automatically at the time of the Hang the garment. The attachment can just as well done manually.

Such a device for automatically attaching a color-coded size cap to the hanger is shown in Figs. 7 and 8 and described in more detail in US-A-5,272,806, 5,285,566 and 5,507,087, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference becomes. It should be noted that the content of these patents is the assignee of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment of a system for attaching display means to a hanger, the attachment means includes a pair of magazine towers 101 and 102 sized to receive a vertical stack of the hanger between them and a third magazine 108 which picks up a stack of stacked indicator caps. The hanging brackets remain on a plate element 104 and are selectively engaged by a reciprocating plate 105 , which has a cutout 105 a corresponding to the outer dimensions of the index coding cap 18 .

Aligning cams 109 are provided directly adjacent to the cutout 105a . The ends 111 a, 111 b of the reciprocating plate 105 have a spring-loaded tip for engagement with the hanging bracket 11 . In addition, the magazines 101 and 102 are independently adjustable by means of a bracket 110 and a bracket 112 to adapt the system to a wide variety of suspension bracket shapes, including those shown in FIG. 5. Each of the magazines 101 , 102 and 108 has cutouts 101 , 102 a which allow the hanging brackets and index caps to be withdrawn from the magazines when the plate device 105 moves forward as shown in FIG. 7. Stand legs 113 to 115 of the system to be used on the work bench addition to raising to support the operator in a hanging the clothing item on the hanger before the hanger is withdrawn from the system. Alternatively, the individual legs can be of different lengths to create an inclined configuration that facilitates hanging the garments.

As shown in FIG. 8, the system is loaded with a bundle of 18 labeled caps lined up which are inserted into the magazine 108 . The magazine 108 is suspended above the reciprocating plate 105 and the support plate 104 by means of clips 116 , 117 . Before engagement with the bracket 11 , the spring-loaded ends 111 a, 111 b of the reciprocating plate 105 are fully extended. When the plate 105 moves forward or downward, as shown in Fig. 8, it first grips a display cap of the number of caps 18 within the extent 105 a. The alignment surface 109 centers the hook 2 within the reciprocating plate 105 such that the display attachment mechanism on the hook is correctly aligned with the display cap 18 during attachment. The plate 105 is dimensioned such that the display cap is placed on the hook 2 by the pressure of the plate 105 when the loose spring-loaded ends 111 a, 111 b attack the central portion of the bracket 11 . The bracket is then moved forward out of the magazines 101 , 102 into the position shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 8.

The bracket contacts eccentric stop elements 106 a, 106 b and moves the end portion of the support plate 104 outwards, as shown in FIG. 8. The spring-loaded ends 111 a and 111 b compensate for irregularities in the casting of the bracket and reduce the pressure of the reciprocating plate 105 on the central portion of the bracket. This essentially prevents the temple breaking and splintering that can normally occur in this type of device. When the pneumatic cylinder 103 moves the engagement plate 104 , the spring-loaded ends 111 a, 111 b are pressed together and the spring-loaded ends are pressed between the support plate 104 and the support plate 107 . As shown in Fig. 8, the hanger is presented to the user now, with the terminals 32 a-32 b above the workplace extend and are free from any immediately adjacent enclosures, so that the user attach a garment quickly and easily to them can. When the garment is attached to the hanger, it is removed from the spring-loaded ends 111 a, 111 b of the platen 105 , thereby allowing the platen 107 to close, thereby activating the control mechanism of the system, to which the back and forth moving plate 105 back to its original starting position. When set to "automatic", once the plate 105 has moved to its fully retracted position, it is moved forward to automatically dispense another display coded cap with a clip.

In yet another embodiment, the color coding system comprises Sizes of garments exhibited in retail clothing stores automatic device for removing the color-coded display caps from the temples.

FIGS. 9 and 10 (a), (b) and (c) represent such a removal device, the display fastening mechanism being of the type of the exemplary embodiment shown here in FIGS. 1 and 2. The laterally extending portion 30 of the display mounting mechanism is easily bent by means of a pin 220 inserted into the opening 24 of a display device 18 , which engages the laterally extending portion, so that it moves in the direction of the plane of the web 4 to open the opening 24 and to enable the display device 18 to be removed from the bracket 1 . Using this system, which is explained in more detail in the international application PCT / US 96/01286, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference, the color-coded display caps can be automatically removed from their respective brackets 1 .

In this embodiment, the bracket 1 of the device for removing the color-coded display caps is fed through a feed rod 205 . The feed rod is inclined such that the brackets 1 move towards the device by gravity. At the beginning of the process, the stirrups 1 can be arranged manually or automatically on the feed rod 205 . Other devices for feeding stirrups 1 to the device may comprise a screw conveyor, a conveyor belt or any other suitable device for conveying the stirrups to the device.

The apparatus of the present embodiment includes a front plate 206 , a back plate 107 and an activation device 208 . The front plate 206 and the rear plate 207 are arranged vertically and opposite one another. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 9, the two plates 206 and 207 are almost square, but any other suitable shape, e.g. B. a rectangular shape can be used.

The activation device 208 comprises a pneumatically driven escape valve with two rods. Each of the two rods is connected to plate 206 or 207 by respective fasteners 209 and 210 . In operation, the activation device 208 moves the front plate 206 and the rear plate 207 parallel to one another in a vertical plane. This movement is repeated periodically to allow caps to be removed from one bracket after another.

The back plate 207 has a recess 219 , which is arranged on an outer portion of the surface opposite the front plate 206 . The recess 219 is dimensioned such that it corresponds to the dimensions of a display device 18 , so that when a bracket 1 is pressed against the back plate 207 , the display device 18 is received in the recess 219 . A pin 220 is provided in the rear wall of the recess 219 at a position corresponding to the opening 24 of the display device 18 . The dimensions, such as the size and the shape of the pin 220 , are selected in accordance with the dimensions, in particular the shape and the depth of the opening 24 , so that the pin 220 enters the opening 24 around the laterally projecting section 30 of the surface 4 of the bracket 1 to open the opening 24 and allow the display device 18 to be removed from the bracket 1 . In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 9, pin 220 is rectangular in cross-section, but another suitable shape can be used.

The front panel 206 includes a through opening or window 218 . The window 218 is preferably dimensioned such that it corresponds to the configuration of the recess 219 in the rear plate 207 . However, the window 218 can have any suitable shape as long as the display device can traverse it. When the back plate 207 is in its upper position and the front plate 206 is in its lower position, the recess 219 and the window 218 are superimposed so that the display device 18 can be removed from the recess 219 through the window 218 .

In the exemplary embodiment described, the preferred method for removing the display device 18 from the recess 219 is by means of an air blast through an opening 221 in the rear wall of the recess 219 . The opening 221 is connected to an air control device by a hose 227 shown in Fig. 10 (c). The air blast through opening 221 is controlled such that when the back plate 207 reaches its upper position and the front plate 206 is in its lower position, the air blast is generated which the display device 18 through the window 218 of the front plate 206 pushes through. The released display device passes through the window 218 and is collected in an emptying tube or chute 224 located in front of the window 218 and leading the released display device into a container 225 (shown in Figs. 10 (a) and 10 (c)) .

The feed bar 205 extends under the two plates 206 and 207 . The distance between the plates 206 and 207 and the feed bar 205 when the plates are in their lower positions is preferably such that the pin 220 of the back plate 207 is aligned with the opening 24 of the display device 18 . The height of the arrangement is adjustable in such a way that automatic operation is possible for different types of brackets and hooks.

As shown in FIG. 9, the back plate 207 is in its lower position and the front plate 206 is in its upper position. When the bracket 1 moves along the feed rod 205 toward the cap removing device, the movement of the bracket 1 through the back plate 207 is stopped.

The Fig. 10 (a), 10 (b) and 10 (c) illustrate the process flow for automatic removal of color-coded display is caps of brackets according to the present invention.

More specifically illustrated Fig. 10 (a) the start of the cycle for removing color-coded indicator caps 18 of a plurality of ironing. As shown, the back plate 207 can be seen to be lowered to its lowermost position, and a plurality of brackets await in front of the cap removal device on the feed bar 205 for successively removing the display caps 18 .

The front plate 206 is raised, but it only needs to be raised until it no longer covers the recess 219 . In other words, the amplitude of the movement of the plates 206 and 207 must be at least equal to the height of the recess 219 , so that the display device 18 can be received in the recess 219 .

Gravity pushes the foremost bracket with the display device into the recess 219 of the rear plate 207 . After the display device 18 is received in the recess 219 of the rear plate 207 , the front plate 206 is moved downward, so that the display device 18 is firmly seated in the recess 219 of the rear plate 207 or at least is held in it. In this position, the pin 220 of the back plate 207 moves the laterally extending portion 30 of the bracket, so that the display device 18 can be released from the bracket 1 . The pin 220 is long enough to move the laterally extending portion 30 away from the recess 24 of the display device 18 , but is not long enough to engage the opening 6 of the hook 2 .

Figure 10 (b) illustrates the mid-cycle step of removing the display 18 from a bracket 1 with the front and back panels 206 and 207 in their lower positions. After the pin 220 releases the display mounting mechanism, the front plate 206 is lowered so that it separates the released display device and the bracket 1 from the rest of the brackets and continues to contact the foremost bracket 1 . In order to support the separation of the foremost bracket 1 with the detached display device from the other brackets, the lower edge 246 of the front plate 206 can be chamfered. The bevelled lower edge 246 of the front plate 206 presses the bracket 1 down by pressing against the edge of the upper region 16 of the hook of the bracket 1 . As shown in FIGS. 10 (a) -10 (b), the lower edge 246 of the front panel 206 is chamfered toward the rear panel 207 . Alternatively, the lower edge 246 may have a step shape.

Fig. 108 (c) shows the end of the cycle when the pin 220 has moved the laterally extending portion 30 away from the display device 18 and the display device can be removed from the bracket 1 by the back plate 207 upwards its upper position is moved while the front plate 206 remains in its lower position. Because the pin 220 of the back plate 207 extends into the opening 24 of the display device 18 , the back plate 207 carries the display device 18 upwards. The front plate 206 contacts the bracket 1 and prevents the bracket 1 from being carried upwards.

Consequently, the pin 220 has two functions, namely to shift the laterally extending portion 30 of the bracket 1 for releasing the display device 18 from the bracket 1 and to carry the display device 18 upwards in order to separate the display device 18 from the bracket 1 .

As described above, the display device 18 is preferably removed from the recess 209 by means of an air blast through the opening 221 in the rear plate 207 . The air blast pushes the display device 18 through the window 218 of the front panel 206 . The released display device 18 passes through the window 218 of the front plate 206 and is collected by an emptying pipe 224 , which is arranged in front of the window 218 and guides the released display device into a container 225 .

After removal of the display device 18 from the bracket 1 and after the back plate 207 has been moved upwards, the bracket 1 continues to slide down the feed rod 205 . As shown in Fig. 10 (c), the bracket 1 with the land 4 moves the feed rod 205 down after the cap is removed. The bracket from which the cap has been removed is collected either manually or automatically, e.g. B. by means of a screw conveyor, which can collect the stirrups, in which the caps have been removed, from a plurality of feed bars 205 , which come from respective cap removal devices.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 (a), the automatic hanger removal device is pneumatically driven and further includes a position controller 211 , an air controller 214 , a first timer 216 , a second timer 217, and an air valve 237 . The air valve 237 generates and / or controls the compressed air by which the cap removal device is controlled and driven in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The air valve 237 , the time control devices 216 and 217 , the activation device 208 , the air control device 240 and the position control device 211 are each connected to air hoses for the pneumatic control.

In addition, the entire device from a holding device (not shown) held and is attached to it.

As shown in FIG. 10 (a), the position controller 211 includes a first detector 212 for the position of the front plate 206 and a second detector 213 for the position of the rear plate 207 . The first detector 212 and the second detector 213 operate on a pneumatic basis and have a similar structure. The first and second detectors 212 and 213 each essentially comprise a cylindrical tube, labeled 244 and 245 , respectively, and cylinders 222 and 223 , respectively, which are movable in each of the cylindrical tubes 244 and 245 . The outer ends of the cylinders 222 and 223 are provided with contact plates which are contacted by the upper sides of the front plate 206 and the rear plate 207 , respectively.

In the upper position, the front plate 206 and the rear plate 207 push the cylinders 222 and 223 inwards and cause a pneumatic signal in the position control device 211 , which enables constant control of the position and the movement of the plates 206 and 207 . FIG. 10 (a) shows a cross section through the control device 211 and the plates 206 and 207 , the position of the plates 206 and 207 being the same as in FIG. 9. The emptying pipe 224 and a collecting container 225 for the detached display devices 18 are also shown.

Fig. 10 (c) is 206 and 207 is a side view of the air control means 214 and of the plates. The air control means 214 comprises a third detector 215 for detecting the position of the back plate 207. The third detector 215 includes a cylindrical tube 249 and a cylinder 226 , which have substantially the same shape and function as the first and second position detectors 212 and 213 described above. In Fig. 10 (c), the back plate 207 is in its upper position and the front plate 206 is in its lower position. The rear plate contacts, when it has achieved 18 and carried by the clip 1 upwardly a display device, a contact plate 226 of the position detector 215 and moves the contact plate 226 together with its cylinder in the cylindrical tube of the detector 215th This causes a pneumatic signal in the air control device 214 , which activates a blast of compressed air through a tube 227 , which is fastened to the opening 221 of the rear plate 207 by a suitable fastening device 228 . The blast of air through opening 221 throws the released indicator 18 through the window 218 of the front panel 206 into the drain tube 224 . The arrow in FIG. 10 (c) represents the direction of movement of the display device 18 .

In operation, the back plate 207 moves down to its lower position, which is followed by an upward movement of the front plate 206 to its upper position. The entire movement cycle is repeated periodically, so that several brackets 1 can be easily and reliably freed of their caps in an automated process. Since one of the plates 206 and 207 is always in its respective lower position, there are always several brackets 1 on the feed rod 205 , which are waiting to be successively released from their caps, as shown in FIGS. 10 (a) to 10 ( c) is shown.

The activator 208 controls the movement of the two plates 206 and 207 such that the front plate 206 cannot move up when the back plate 207 is not in its down position and the back plate 207 cannot move up when the Front plate 206 is not in its lower position. This ensures that the stirrups to be released from their caps do not slide under the plates 206 and 207 along the feed rod 205 without being released from their caps.

The first timing device 216 controls the regular movement cycle of the two plates 206 and 207 , the second timing device 217 permitting repeated downward movement of the front plate 206 . For example, if the hook of the hanger 1 is bent or damaged, or the display device 18 is bent or damaged, the front plate 206 cannot slide down to push or hold the display device 18 in the recess 219 because its lower edge supports the contacted the upper edge of the display device 18 and is thus prevented in its downward movement. In this case, the timing device 217 signals the activation device 208 to raise the front plate 206 again and to try to move it down again. This is repeated until the display device 18 is neatly received in the recess 219 of the rear plate 207 and the front plate 206 can move into its lower position without resistance. This problem can already be partially avoided by a suitable angle or a suitable curvature of the lower edge of the front plate 206 , as explained above.

Although the system of FIGS. 9 and 10 is shown with only one type of bracket shown in FIG. 5, it should be noted that a bracket of any other type, including the types shown in FIG. 5, is attached to it Position can be set.

As shown in FIG. 11, a method for reusing stirrups with size indicators removably attached to them is shown in a schematic flow diagram. A hanger manufacturing center 401 pours hangers and ships the hangers through a distribution channel 403 to multiple apparel manufacturers 405 in distributed geographic locations. Although a single group of clothing manufacturers 405 is shown in FIG. 11, it should be noted that in actual practice there may be hundreds of clothing manufacturers who ship clothing to any large retail outlet.

At the same time, many removable size indicators are cast at 407 and sent in bundles 413 of size indicators to the same clothing manufacturer 405 via a distribution channel 409 .

In each of the many apparel manufacturers 405 , a single bracket 411 and a single display cap from the bundle 413 are combined with the garment that was manufactured at the US apparel manufacturing facility at the geographic location. The size indicator represents at least one feature of the garment and preferably displays the size of the garment as it is labeled in the country where the retail store is located to which the garment is to be shipped. A plurality of brackets, garments and size display devices are then stacked, as shown at 415, and the stack is store in a retail distribution center 419 or a regional 417 sent the commercial business chain in the individual 419 is operated.

The regional distribution center 417 ensures supply of clothes on hangers 421 for the various retail stores 419 in distributed geographical locations in order to sell them to the consumers. At the point of sale in the retail store 419 , the garments are removed from the hangers and the hangers 411 are returned to the regional distribution center 417 . The stirrups are preferably sent to the distribution centers in collapsible pallet-sized boxes with plastic lids. Although it is advantageous to return all the hangers to the regional distribution center 417 , it should be noted that in actual practice, between 10 and 25% of the hangers sent from the distribution center to retail stores as garments on hangers 421 are not returned with the garment, but with the garment sold to buyers or damaged or otherwise lost in use.

In the regional distribution center 417 , the hangers are stacked and sent to the reprocessing center 423 , again preferably in collapsible pallet-sized boxes, where the removable size indicators are removed and the hangers checked and sorted by size and type and then cleaned.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the size indicators of the present invention are automatically removed, as discussed above with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

At reprocessing center 423 , it was found that between 10 and 30% of the returned stirrups are no longer suitable for reuse due to excessive wear, breakage, bending, adhesive labels or other garbage that cannot be easily removed.

The stirrups that fail control and the display caps are returned via a distribution channel 424 to a location where de 09126 00070 552 001000280000000200012000285910901500040 0002019719674 00004 09007r stirrup board and the display caps are ground or crushed, as shown at 427 . At location 427 , the temples are still separated to sort the temples according to the material from which they are molded, with polypropylene and polystyrene being the two main materials from which the temples are cast. The polypropylene grain material is then used to cast consumer hangers, as shown at 429 , which can be returned via a distribution channel 431 to be sold to consumers. The remaining non-re-pourable material is sold as residual material, as shown at 433 .

At reprocessing center 423 , it was found that between 30 and 50% of the stirrups that originally entered the reprocessing cycle at 403 are available for redistribution. The brackets 411 are then returned as part of the order fulfillment via the supply link 435 without any size indicator attached to them. The supply of hangers at 435 is increased by freshly cast hangers, as indicated at 403 , and the combined stream of refurbished and new hangers 437 is sent back to the clothing supplier 405 , as shown in FIG. 11. Note that each bracket crosses the loop two to six times before it cannot be reprocessed. The hangers shipped by the reprocessing center 423 for recycling can be shipped to either American or foreign clothing manufacturers. However, since it is expected that only 50 to 80% of the originally cast hangers will be reused, the supply can only be sufficient to meet the demand of those nearby, in this case the American clothing manufacturer. The cost of casting versus international shipping must also be taken into account when dealing with foreign apparel manufacturers. However, the higher shipping costs are often outweighed by the satisfaction of a particular buyer's demand in a foreign country.

At the same time, many new removable size indicators are cast at 407 and shipped via channel 409 to clothing manufacturers 405 to be combined with the hangers coming from product stream 437 .

For the time being, it has been found that the labor and material handling required to sort the removable size indicators in the reprocessing center 423 are more expensive than the new molding of the removable size indicators at step 407 . The removable size indicators are not only cast in multiple colors, but each of the colors can represent up to ten different sizes, as described above. In addition to sorting, the removable size indicators must be inspected and collected in a magazine or in multiple stacks of caps suitable for automated assembly with the hangers and garments at apparel manufacturers 405 . Thus, in the normal course of the process, the removable size indicators are milled at step 427 and sold off board at step 433 , as shown by channel 439 . However, it is possible that the sizing devices in the reprocessing center 423 are sorted and then returned to the apparel manufacturers for reuse.

Currently, a significant percentage of clothing sold in retail stores 419 is sold in foreign areas, such as B. China, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Middle Eastern countries. These foreign apparel manufacturers are indicated at 441 and have essentially the same function as the domestic manufacturers shown at 405 in that each of these units manufactures a garment and then a bracket 411 , a display cap from the bundled stack 413, and the garment combined in an automated production line to produce a product known as GOH (garment on a hanger) that is ready to be displayed in retail stores 419 . The GOH garments are then collected, as shown at 443 , and shipped to regional distribution centers 417 by international transportation, generally intermodal or airborne containers.

Because the temples are essentially a heap when cast, it may occasionally be cheaper to cast the temples abroad, as shown at 445 , and send the temples 411 to a regional temple distribution center 447 than they would in an American one Pour device 401 and send it from there. Regional trailer distribution centers 447 can be located in geographical locations as diverse as Hong Kong, India, or Turkey and are intended to supply collections of manufacturing units that are within a few hundred kilometers of the regional distribution center.

Stacks or bundles of removable size indicators 413 are also cast at 407 and shipped to distribution centers 447 or foreign apparel manufacturers 441 via distribution channels 409 , 449 and 451 . The foreign distribution centers 447 then form separate shipments of hangers 411 and bundles of removable size indicators 413 for the foreign apparel manufacturers 441 . The foreign clothing manufacturer then assembles one of the hangers, one of the removable size indicators, and one of the garments to provide a garment on a hanger (GOH), the removable size indicator corresponding to the size of the garment.

Casting the removable size indicators in a single location, e.g. The one shown at 407 ensures that the colors selected for the removable size indicators match when they arrive at the retail stores 419 , even when the adjacent garments and hangers have been assembled thousands of kilometers apart. In addition, the pile and bundle size of the removable size indicators 413 make them insensitive to trans-ocean shipping and use.

Although in the preferred embodiment the removable ones Size indicators are all cast in one place, it is quite possible the removable size indicators in one or more to pour foreign pouring equipment, provided that close control of the pigments used in the color display scheme is maintained.

There may also be a stream of returned unnecessary stirrups, as shown along distribution channels 450 and 450 a, which can be used to increase the supply of stirrups at 435 instead of pouring new hangers at 401 .

In the preferred embodiment, the bracket of the present invention is made of Styrene, K-resin, H.I-styrene, polypropylene, other suitable thermoplastics or Combinations of these. The display device of the present invention consists of Styrene or any other suitable plastic material.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown and , it should be noted that various modifications and Changes in form or in detail can be made without the scope of protection  to leave the present invention. It is therefore intended that the present Invention is not limited to the exact form and details shown and here or anything less than the entire one disclosed here Invention represents as claimed below.

Claims (36)

1. A method of reusing stirrups 1 to which size indicators ( 18 ) are removably attached, comprising the following steps:

• a) sending a first amount of hangers ( 1 ) to several clothing manufacturers in distributed geographical locations,
• b) shipping a plurality of removable size indicators ( 18 ) to the several clothing manufacturers in the distributed geographical locations, the removable size indicators ( 18 ) being removably attachable to the first set of brackets ( 1 ),
• c) assembling a single one of the set of hangers ( 1 ), a piece of clothing and a single one of the removable size indicators ( 18 ), the size indicator ( 18 ) identifying the item of clothing,
• d) collecting a plurality of hangers ( 1 ), items of clothing and size display device ( 18 ) in a group and then sending the group to a retail outlet for displaying and selling the items of clothing,
• e) removing a determinable percentage of the hangers ( 1 ) and size indicators ( 18 ) from the garments when the garments are sold and returning the determined percentage to a reuse center,
• f) removing the size indicators ( 18 ) from the brackets ( 1 ) at the reuse center and checking the brackets ( 1 ) to obtain a plurality of selected brackets ( 1 ) for reuse, and
• g) multiplying the selected brackets ( 1 ) with new cast brackets ( 1 ) to provide the first set of brackets ( 1 ) and repeating step a) to form a cycle of reused brackets ( 1 ).

2. A method of reusing stirrups ( 1 ) to which size indicators ( 18 ) are removably attached, according to claim 1, characterized in that the method further includes the step of casting groups of removable size indicators ( 18 ) for each first quantity shipped of brackets ( 1 ). 3. A method of reusing stirrups ( 1 ) to which size indicators ( 18 ) are removably attached, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the method further comprises the step of shredding the controlled stirrups ( 1 ) which are not for reuse can be selected to form a reusable hanger for retail shopper use. 4. A method of reusing stirrups ( 1 ) to which size display devices ( 18 ) are removably attached, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the method further comprises the step of casting the removable size display device ( 18 ) in multiple colors to provide color coded hangers ( 1 ) with a color code relating to a feature of the garment carried by the hanger ( 1 ) when the indicators ( 18 ), the hangers ( 1 ) and the garments are assembled. 5. A method for the reuse of brackets (1) on which size display devices are removably secured (18), characterized in that the color-coded size display devices (18) are cast in a single location, a color uniformity ensured. 6. A method of reusing hangers ( 1 ), to which size display devices ( 18 ) are removably attached, according to any one of the preceding steps, characterized by the step of casting the additional hangers ( 1 ) in a separate location to deliver them to the clothing manufacturer to send. 7. A method for reusing stirrups ( 1 ), to which size display devices ( 18 ) are removably fastened, according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the determinable percentage lies between 65% and 95% of the first quantity of stirrups ( 1 ) . 8. A method for reusing brackets ( 1 ), to which size display devices ( 18 ) are removably attached, according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the number of selected brackets ( 1 ) between 50% and 80% of the number of the first Amount of stirrups ( 1 ) lies. 9. A method of re-using brackets ( 1 ), to which size display devices ( 18 ) are removably attached, according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the step of cleaning the brackets ( 1 ) after the removable size display devices ( 18 ) from the brackets ( 1 ) have been removed. 10. A method for reusing stirrups ( 1 ), to which size display devices ( 18 ) are removably fastened, according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the statistical average stirrup ( 1 ) passes between two and six reuse loops. 11. A method for reusing stirrups ( 1 ) to which size display devices ( 18 ) are removably attached, according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the steps of sorting and washing the size display devices, checking the size display devices by a plurality of selected size display devices ( 18 ) and sending the plurality of selected size indicators ( 18 ) to the apparel manufacturers. 12. A method for reusing brackets ( 1 ) to which size display devices ( 18 ) are removably attached, according to claim 11, characterized by the step of increasing the selected size display devices ( 18 ) with newly cast-on size display devices ( 18 ). 13. A method of color coding the sizes of garments displayed in retail clothing stores that have multiple types of clothing for multiple groups of buyers, each group of buyers having individual buyers of a similar physiology, the method providing an identical color size code to help individual buyers find Support garments in different types of clothing that match their physiology with the following steps

• a) classifying the individual items of clothing for sale into several types of clothing,
• b) separating each of the clothing types into several graded sizes, the graded sizes having several characteristics of a common size that appear in all types,
• c) labeling graduated sizes in different types of clothing that would be selected by a clothing-selecting buyer, according to the same buyer physiology,
• d) assigning a common color code for each of the graded size identifiers identified in step c) above to form a matching set of graded sizes common to a particular buyer physiology, and
• e) displaying the individual items of clothing on hangers ( 1 ) with a color-coded size cap attached to them, the color of the size cap matching the assigned common color code,

whereby a buyer moves away from an area where a type of clothing is exhibited can move to another area in the retail store where others Types of clothing are on display, and items of clothing can be found by him correspond to the same common color code marked physiology. 14. Process for color coding the sizes of retail clothing stores issued garments according to claim 13, characterized, that the individual types of clothing women's clothing, men's clothing, by waist size Ordered women 's clothing, men' s clothing ordered by waist size and Plus size clothing includes. 15. A method of color coding the sizes of in retail clothing stores issued garments according to claim 14, characterized, that the individual types of clothing continue to be children's and toddler clothing, Include youth clothing and underwear. 16. Method of color coding the sizes of in retail clothing stores issued garments according to any one of claims 13-15, characterized, that the several common size labels S (small), M (medium), L (large) and Include XL (oversized). 17. Process for color coding the sizes of in retail clothing stores issued articles of clothing according to claim 16, characterized,  that the several common size labels continue to be XS (slim), XS (very small), M / L (medium / large) and XXL (very very large). 18. Method of color coding the sizes of in retail clothing stores issued garments according to any one of claims 13 to 17, characterized, that the graded sizes defined in step c) are created on a large scale buyer-physiological demographics based, so that when defining the graded Size for a garment ordered by waist size is the defined size equal to graded size of a garment ordered according to the chest size for the same physiological profile of the buyer. 19. Methods of color coding the sizes of in retail clothing stores issued garments according to claim 18, characterized, that a female buyer who has an average physiological demographic profile, within the retail store area move to area, several types of clothing, such as B. from comfortable clothes too Look through costumes, dresses, coats and underwear and their physiological Profile can be found by the same color code in each profile Area is defined for each separate clothing line. 20. Methods of color coding the sizes of in retail clothing stores issued garments according to one of claims 13 to 19 characterized, that the common color codes are selected from 16 easily distinguishable colors. 21. A method of color coding the sizes of in retail clothing stores issued articles of clothing according to claim 20, characterized, that the only repetitions in the labeling of graded sizes Colors repeat with types of clothing that are not worn by the same buyer be such. B. with a child / toddler clothing and an oversize Clothing type. 22. A system for color coding the sizes of items of clothing exhibited in retail clothing stores that have multiple types of clothing for multiple groups of buyers, each group of buyers comprising individual buyers of a similar physiology, the system providing a same color size code to help individual buyers find items of clothing of different types of clothing Support according to their physiology in various areas of the retail business with:

• a) several individual items of clothing for sale, each item of clothing being classified into one of several types of clothing,
• b) a plurality of graded sizes for each of the types of clothing, the graded sizes having a number of common size markings that appear for all types,
• c) a group with a common code that has the same code identifier for identifying graded sizes in different types of clothing that would be selected by a clothing-selecting buyer, according to the same buyer physiology,
• d) a plurality of color coded display caps, each of the color codes being associated with a group identified in step c) above with a common code to form a matched set of color coded display caps defining graded sizes common to a particular buyer physiology
• e) several types of hangers for displaying the individual items of clothing, one of the color-coded display caps being attached to each hanger, the color of the display cap corresponding to the assigned group with a common code,

whereby a buyer moves away from an area where a type of clothing is exhibited move to another area within the retail store where others Types of clothing are exhibited, and clothing items corresponding to their physiology can be found that are displayed on hangers that are of the same indicator cap color Marked are. 23. System for color coding the sizes of in retail clothing stores issued articles of clothing according to claim 22, characterized, that the individual types of clothing women's clothing, men's clothing, by waist size Ordered women 's clothing, men' s clothing ordered by waist size and Include oversize clothing. 24. System of color coding the sizes of in retail clothing stores issued garments according to claim 23, characterized, that the individual types of clothing continue to be children's and toddler clothing, Include youth clothing and underwear.   25. System of color coding the sizes of in retail clothing stores issued garments according to any one of claims 22 to 24, characterized, that the several graded size labels S (small), M (medium), L (large) and SL (very large) include. 26. System of color coding the sizes of in retail clothing stores issued garments according to claim 25, characterized, that the multiple graded clothing labels continue to be XS (very small), M / L (medium / large), and XXL (very very large) include. 27. System of color coding the sizes of in retail clothing stores issued garments according to any one of claims 22 to 26, characterized, that the graded sizes identified in step c) are on a large scale performed buyer physiological demographics based, so that when labeling the graded size for a garment classified according to the waist size identified size is equal to the graded size of one with respect to the chest circumference classified garment for the same buyer physiological profile. 28. System of color coding the sizes of in retail clothing stores issued garments according to claim 27, characterized, that an average physiological demographic profile female buyers move from area to area in the retail store, several types of clothing, such as B. from comfortable clothes to costumes, dresses, Look through coats and underwear and find the one that suits your physiological profile Size can be found by the same color-coded display cap in each area each separate type of clothing is labeled. 29. System of color coding the sizes of in retail clothing stores issued garments according to any one of claims 22 to 28, characterized, that the plurality of color codes from 16 used in the color-coded display caps easily distinguishable colors are selected.   30. System of color coding the sizes of in retail clothing stores issued garments according to claim 29, characterized, that the only colors repeating in the graded color coding Repeat for types of clothing that are not worn by the same buyer such as B. in a child / toddler clothing type and an oversize clothing type. 31. System of color coding the sizes of in retail clothing stores issued garments according to any one of claims 22 to 30, characterized, that each color-coded display cap continues to be one of the common ones Visualize size labels. 32. System of color coding the sizes of items of clothing exhibited in retail clothing stores according to one of claims 22 to 31, characterized in that the color-coded display caps can be removed from the brackets ( 1 ) in order to reuse the bracket ( 1 ) for another Allow clothing line. 33. System of color coding the sizes of items of clothing exhibited in retail clothing stores according to one of claims 22 to 32, characterized in that the system further comprises means for removing the color-coded display caps from the brackets ( 1 ). 34. System of color coding the sizes of garments exhibited in retail clothing stores according to one of claims 22 to 33, characterized in that the system further comprises an automatic device for attaching the color-coded display caps to the brackets ( 1 ).