EP3806699A1

EP3806699A1 - Clothing hangers and grippers

Info

Publication number: EP3806699A1
Application number: EP19750058.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Norman Fraser Mackenzie
Original assignee: Initiate GRP Ltd
Current assignee: Initiate GRP Ltd
Priority date: 2018-07-14
Filing date: 2019-07-15
Publication date: 2021-04-21
Also published as: WO2020016188A1; US20210267397A1

Abstract

Clothes hangers and clothes grippers are disclosed herein. One clothes hanger includes a first planar hanger profile piece including first and second hanger arms extending oppositely from a central portion and including respective pedestal portions folded upon the first and second hanger arms and the central portion, a second planar hanger profile piece including first and second hanger arms extending oppositely from a central portion, wherein the first and second planar hanger profile pieces are attached to one another with the planar pedestal portions disposed therebetween, the planar pedestal portions serving to space the first and second planar hanger profile pieces from one another.

Description

CLOTHING HANGERS AND GRIPPERS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] In one aspect, the present invention relates to apparatus for gripping, securing or hanging items or material, including items of clothing, which may be for the purpose of storage, transport and display.

[0002] In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method whereby a substantially planar clothes hanger may be provided with configurations which aid and facilitate the loading of certain types of garment to the hanger.

[0003] In other aspects, the present invention relates to a method whereby a clothes hanger may be provided with a way of displaying information, e.g., size, price, branding, promotions or any other information in the form of text, graphics symbols or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Clothing companies, as an example, are constantly seeking new and innovative ways to convey, store and display their products. With clothing, for example, which is being offered for sale in a modern retail environment, a clothes-hanger is an important‘point-of-sale’ tool, which may be provided with features, which can show a garment in its best possible aspect, requiring it to be both attractive and functional. Other aspects have come into focus in recent years, the first being the rising importance of environmental requirements, which has created the need to replace plastic as a choice in the creation of clothes-hangers with a more environmentally friendly material such as paper, which is more easily and ecologically less damaging to re-cycle. In parallel with this, the focus has currently shifted towards the auxiliary equipment and devices, also manufactured in many cases from plastic, as well as metal, such as the grippers commonly used to hold garments such as trousers, pants, skirts etc.

[0005] With regard to the environment, an industry where the vast majority of hangers are made from plastic has seen an increasing demand for more environmentally friendly materials, and an end to polluting industrial processes.

[0006] In one object of the present invention, the presently disclosed designs have been conceived, therefore, with the aim of creating a durable and strong gripper using materials which although they may not have the inherent strength of, e.g., plastic, or metal, may be more environmentally friendly, and in the long-run, possibly cheaper with the added advantage of being able to be re-cycled within already existing and non-polluting re-cycling schemes.

Although the present designs might also be created in standard materials, e.g., plastic or metal, the advantage would be that such a design offers an opportunity to create a strong gripper from less tensile material. However, the main purpose of the invention has been to allow the use of more sustainable materials such as, for example, paper, with a design which allows a less tensile material to assume a strength beyond it’s normal capacities.

[0007] In another object of the present invention, recognition is made that a significant quantity of the material used in the manufacture of a more environmentally-friendly product is likely to come in sheet form, providing for a substantially planar hanger. The presently disclosed designs have been conceived, therefore, with the aim of providing a method whereby a substantially planar clothes hanger may be provided with a curve, and an increase in the front-to-back depth of the surface area running across the width of the hanger from shoulder to shoulder, while using the minimum of material.

[0008] In yet other objects of the present invention, the present designs have been conceived with the aim of providing a means of presenting easily interchangeable information on a hanger of an essentially planar kind, although it may also be applied to non-planar hangers where features have been incorporated to facilitate such an application.

[0009] In yet further objects of the present invention, the present designs have been conceived with the aim of providing a method and means whereby a planar clothes hanger may be provided with features which allow a more environmentally-friendly, but weaker material to be configured to both hold the garment in a simple and enhancing way, while simultaneously, looking attractive and being easy to load with a garment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In one aspect of the present invention, various embodiments of a clothing gripper have been designed to provide a similar function to existing products made from metal or plastic, but made in a less tensile material such as paper or fibre. Some embodiments include a

mechanism whereby an arm is made to close between two rows of rigid material, to compress fabric, and be locked in situ, by a retaining‘hoop’ or lever, in such a manner as to retain whatever artefact is so held. In another embodiment, a non-mechanical version is provided consisting simply of a tube with two parallel crevices cut vertically along part of the length of the tube, on opposite sides, which may have features of various kinds cut into the opposing edges of the crevice, contours such as teeth, curves or texture etc. In embodiments, the teeth have been created with an upward-slant, to offer easy-entry, with a more resistant release.

[001 1] In one embodiment, a partially rotatable arm has been cut from a substantially planar panel attached by means of an arbor formed from the top of the arm, and retained within its circumference by the material of the panel from which it has been cut, said panel and arm being set between two outer panels, such that the rotatable arm forms a jaw with the two facing outer edges of the outer panels between which is forced by means of a hoop or restraining collar which is held against the back of the gripper and when pushed downwards over a spur at the back of the gripper, locks the jaws in a closed position trapping any material placed within them. [0012] In other embodiments, a tube has replaced the outer panels described above, where a section has been removed from along a lower part of the length of the tube to create two parallel ridges formed by the cutaway, between which a planar arm, extending downwards as part of a planar panel, roughly in the form of horizontal‘L’, the top section of which is movable horizontally through apertures cut at the front and back of the tube just above the cutaway section, to carry the downward facing arm to close parallel to, and between the said ridges as the upper horizontal section is pushed into the apertures above the cutaway.

[0013] In one embodiment, the arm is compressed and locked between the parallel ridges of the cutaway by means of a lever-piece being inserted vertically into a right-angled aperture cut into the outer end of the sliding panel, and turned horizontal against the back outer wall of the tube to force the arm into the cutaway section of the lower tube, and locking, to trap any garment held between the jaws. A third embodiment replaces the lever with a hoop, fitted over the gripper and pushed downwards at the front over the top of the arm to force the sliding section further against the tube, thereby pushing the drop-down arm between the two ridges of the cutaway.

[0014] In another embodiment, the gripper consists of a tube where parallel crevices have been cut on opposite sides of the tube from one end, partway along the length, and which may have on either edge of each of the said crevices, features such as teeth, curves, contours or texture cut into them to increase resistance as fabric or a garment is forced into the open end of the crevices to be gripped by the edges of said crevices by the natural spring-resistance inherent in the structure of the tube. The tubes may be deployed on a bar in a similar manner to any other gripper.

[0015] In another aspect of the present invention, a substantially planar clothes hanger has been designed, consisting of two or more identical or similar planar layers, which may either be joined surface to surface, or be separated by one, or by a series of intervening panels, said panels being formed from out of the body of one or more of the profiles, formed on the edge of the profile, or attached as separate elements, to be set between two or more of the hanger profiles as pedestals conjoining facing surfaces of two or more aligned hanger profiles, to form a clothes hanger with increased depth from front to back of the hanger. A further aspect of this method of construction, allows such a hanger to acquire a curve across the width of the hanger, i.e., bringing the shoulder-ends slightly forward of the center, by supporting the outer ends of the shoulders at a higher level from the surface upon which the hanger is laid flat, creating a void below the central section of the hanger, into which the central section of the hanger is depressed by the application of pressure during the setting of the adhesive joining the layers, or prior to any other method of fixing the profiles to each other, providing the finished hanger with a permanent curve.

[0016] In another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided whereby a substantially planar clothes hanger may be provided with a curve to bring the outer ends of the hanger, slightly forward of the centre, mimicking the posture of the human shoulders, in order to provide a closer resemblance to the way a garment might look when worn, and to increase the depth, from the back to the front, of the top surface of the hanger.

[0017] In another aspect, use is made of a characteristic inherent in most fibrous or nature- based materials, for example, wood, paper, fiber of any kind, and cardboard. When a piece of such material is wetted, the first reaction is that it will bend away from the wet surface. However, after a short time as the material dries, it bends back in the opposite direction, sometimes further than prior to when it received the wetting, creating a significant curve. In the present embodiment, when a water-based bonding material is used to join a relatively thick profile to another of substantially less thickness, the first reaction of the profiles is to bend away from the surface upon which he thinner layer has been attached, as the heavier profile will curve with more energy than the thin profile, carrying the thin profile with it. Later, however, as the two profiles dry out, they bend backwards in the direction of the thinner profile, and slightly further than the substantially flat format they have prior to wetting. As the bonding material hardens, the two profiles lock each other within the curve, and the curve therefore remains permanent.

[0018] In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided whereby a substantially planar clothes hanger is designed to include a curve by the method of conjoining two similarly-shaped profiles either by gluing, or by any other method, and prior to or during that process confining the two profiles within a forming apparatus which may simply consist of resting the outer ends of the hanger profile on a higher plane than the center and placing a weight at the central panel to depress said panel to a lower level than the outer ends of the profiles while either the glue hardens, or while the panels may be pinned or stapled in that position. Such a method creates a hanger with a substantially permanent curve.

[0019] In yet another aspect of the present invention, a clothes hanger, in this case, of a substantially planar format, has been provided on the central section of the hanger, with a strut formed between two parallel channels, or slots, which in the present embodiment have been cut vertically to extend downwards from either side of the of the top edge of the hanger, on either side of the point at which the hook is attached, and stopping just below the point where the base of the hook-shank is attached to the hanger. Over this strut may be placed a sleeve, formed from any suitable flexible material, configured in a loop format which may be of any circular or polygonal section, but which in the present embodiment has been made in a rectangular section, exposing surfaces front and back and to the sides, to slide over the said strut, and to carry information of any kind, in the form of text, graphics, symbols or the like, and additionally to cover the join between the hanger and the hook. The sleeve may either, be extended downwards or upwards, front and back, to cover the central area of the hanger, to provide more space for any further information, imagery or graphics, or used as a‘collar’ to hold different types of’drop-over’ or additional panels to the hanger, covering front, back or both central surfaces. Additionally, another small rectangular module, which may be created in a similar manner to the sleeve, has been drilled with two small holes allowing it to slide down the hook and locate at its base on top of the central section of the hanger.

[0020] In a yet further aspect of the present invention, a hanger is provided comprising a suspending hook attached to one or more panels, has been designed for the purpose of holding garments, e.g., underwear, in a way which displays the form of the garment across a front panel, and held in tension from behind said panel by any one of a series of spikes or piers extending either from the front panel or from an additional panel mounted behind said front panel, which, being attached either centrally, or at one end, or along one edge, allows the spikes to be lifted a short distance from the back of the front panel, so as to facilitate attaching the garment around any one of the spikes according to the size of the garment.

[0021] According to the various aspects and embodiments described herein, the materials used are paper based (e.g. derived from wood pulp in a papermaking process and including cellulose fibres).

[0022] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

First Embodiments

[0023] Fig.1 shows the three layers, the two outer panels, and the central section in elevation, of the gripper prior to assembly.

[0024] Fig.2 shows the locking hoop in plan view

[0025] Fig.3 shows the locking hoop in perspective

[0026] Fig.4 shows how the three layers are lined up prior to assembly.

[0027] Fig.5 shows by cross-hatching where the glue should be positioned, on both sides of the panel indicated.

[0028] Fig.6 shows the assemble gripper.

[0029] Fig.7 shows how the movable limb operates.

[0030] Fig.8 shows the locking hoop in position prior to being attached to the assembled gripper.

[0031] Fig.9 shows the locking hoop in situ, with the gripper in the open position from the obverse side.

[0032] Fig, 10 shows he gripper again in the open position from the side on which the locking hoop was placed.

[0033] Fig.11 shows he gripper in the closed position prior to locking.

[0034] Fig.12 shows the gripper in the locked position.

[0035] Fig.13 shows how the gripers may be deployed on a standard-type hanger, and with a garment clamped within the locked jaws of two of the grippers. [0036] Fig.14 shows the substantially planar‘L’-shaped panel of the second embodiment, with the right-angled triangle on the outer end of the horizontal limb and the serrated vertical of the lower limb.

[0037] Fig, 15 shows the lever or torque.

[0038] Fig.16-19 show four views of the tube section from all sides in elevation.

[0039] Fig.20 shows the assemble gripper prior to closing.

[0040] Fig. 21 shows the gripper in the closed and locked position.

[0041] Fig.22 shows the substantially planar‘L’ shaped panel of the third embodiment, with the channel cut part-way along the outer end of the horizontal to accommodate the locking hoop.

[0042] Fig.23 shows the locking hoop in plan.

[0043] Figs. 24-27 show four views of the tube section from all sides in elevation.

[0044] Fig. 28 shows the assembled gripper with locking-hoop in situ in the open and unlocked position.

[0045] Fig.29 shows the gripper in the locked position.

[0046] Figs.30-33 show side and front elevations of a tube configured to grip fabric. Fig.34 shows the configured tube in perspective.

[0047] Fig.35 shows how the configured tubes may be deployed on a standard hanger to hold a garment.

Second Embodiments

[0048] Fig.36 shows a frontal view of a hanger profile with panels, separated by fold-lines, extending from its lower edge, one of which has a hook attached.

[0049] Fig.37 shows a second hanger profile without panels, set just above the first hanger profile with the panels folded inwards across the surface of the hanger profile.

[0050] Fig.38 shows the assembled profiles, with the second profile on top.

[0051] Fig.39 shows a crossbar.

[0052] Fig.40 shows the assembled hanger profiles with the crossbar in situ.

[0053] (Figs.41-51 show the assembly process in isometric/perspective view.)

[0054] Fig.41 shows the hanger profile with a series of panels, separated by fold-lines, extending from its lower edge, the central panel having a hook attached.

[0055] Fig.42 shows how the panels are folded inwards across the surface of the hanger profile, with adhesive on the surfaces of the panels.

[0056] Fig.43 shows the hanger profile with the panels, now forming a series of pedestals, in situ on the surface of the hanger profile, with more adhesive on their exposed surfaces.

[0057] Fig.44 shows how the hanger profile is located between two raised supports at the outer ends of the arms, with a second hanger profile located just above it prior to being joined to it.

[0058] Fig.45 shows the second hanger profile set in situ upon the pedestals, with arrows indicating the direction and location of continuing pressure exerted on the conjoined profiles. [0059] Fig.46 shows the effect of the continuing pressure, in causing the central part of the conjoined hanger profiles to descend, while the hanger arms remain supported at their outer ends, causing the conjoined assembly to assume a curve across the entire width of the assembled hanger profiles.

[0060] Figs.47-49 show the same r process, this time with two profiles, minus the intervening pedestals.

[0061] Fig. 50 shows the fully assembled hanger with the two profiles separated by pedestals.

[0062] Fig.51 shows the fully assembled hanger with the two profiles, but without the pedestals between them.

Third Embodiments

[0063] Fig.52 shows the two profiles of the hanger prior to the application of bonding material between the surfaces to be joined together.

[0064] Fig.53 shows a plan view of the two profiles bonded together, with bend forming.

[0065] Fig.54 shows a plan view with bend forming in the opposite direction.

Fourth Embodiments

[0066] Fig.55 shows a front view of a planar clothes hanger with a wire hook.

[0067] Fig.56 shows a front view of a planar clothes hanger with the hook as an extension of the hanger.

[0068] Fig.57 shows the information sleeve prior to folding.

[0069] Fig.58 shows how the folding of the sleeve begins.

[0070] Fig.59 shows the sleeve prior to closing.

[0071] Fig.60 shows the sleeve fully formed and ready to fit to the hanger.

[0072] Fig.61 shows how the sleeves may be formed for manufacture and deployment.

[0073] Fig.62 shows the hanger prior to receiving the sleeve.

[0074] Fig.63 shows the first stage of how the sleeve is fitted.

[0075] Fig.64 shows a second stage.

[0076] Fig.65 shows the sleeve in situ.

[0077] Fig.66 shows an extended version of the sleeve.

[0078] Fig.67 shows the extended version fitted to the hanger.

[0079] Fig.68 shows a front view of the hanger with the extended sleeve in situ.

[0080] Fig.69 shows the sleeve applied to the hanger with hook as an extension.

[0081] Fig.70 shows a similar type of sleeve about to be attached to a strut in an alternative position on a hanger with the hook as an extension.

[0082] Fig.71 shows a‘drop-over’ folded in the center with an aperture located on the top surface, and extensions on either side.

[0083] Fig.72 shows another‘drop-over’ with one surface. [0084] Fig.73 shows a rectangular‘box’.

[0085] Fig.74 shows the first double-sided drop-over located on the hanger, with the sleeve above prior to dropping onto the slots.

[0086] Fig.75 shows the sleeve dropped onto the double-sided drop-over, locking onto to the hanger.

[0087] Fig.76 shows the single-sided drop-over located on the hanger front, with the sleeve above.

[0088] Fig.77 shows the sleeve in situ, locking the single-sided drop-over onto the front surface of the hanger.

[0089] Fig.78 shows the rectangular‘box’ located at the base of the hook.

Fifth Embodiments

[0090] Fig.79 shows the front elevation of the first embodiment of the hanger profile.

[0091] Fig.80 shows the same view of the second embodiment.

[0092] Fig.81 shows a perspective view of the first embodiment with cross-hatching showing where glue may be applied.

[0093] Fig.82 shows the same view of the second embodiment, again with cross-hatching showing where glue may be applied.

[0094] Fig.83 shows the way in which the first embodiment is configured.

[0095] Fig.84 shows the first step in the configuration of the second.

[0096] Fig.85 shows the obverse of Fig.6 in the second stage of its configuration.

[0097] Fig.86 shows the second embodiment in its finished format.

[0098] Fig.87 shows the first step in how a garment is loaded onto the first embodiment of the hanger.

[0099] Fig.88 shows the second step.

[00100] Fig.89 shows the first step in how a garment is loaded onto the second embodiment of the hanger.

[00101 ] Fig.90 shows the second step.

[00102] Fig.91 shows a front elevation of the first embodiment with a garment in situ.

[00103] Fig.92 shows the obverse.

[00104] Fig.93 shows a front elevation of the second embodiment with a garment in situ.

[00105] Fig.94 shows the obverse.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

First Embodiments

[00106] Figs.1-3 show in elevation, the components 1A,1 B, 1 C,1 D,1 E of which the gripper 1 is composed. Fig.4 shows in perspective how the three panels.1 C, 1A&B, and 1 D are aligned prior to gluing, with the confines of the glue-pattern shown in Fig.5 by the cross hatching on panel 1 A, which is the same for the obverse of the panel 1 A. Fig.6 shows the almost complete gripper 1 , but without as yet the locking hoop 1 E, as does the next, Fig.7 which shows how the rotating arm 1 B swings outwards from the body of the gripper 1 . In this drawing, the inner edge with‘teeth’ X2 is seen on the rotating arm 1 B, as are the two facing edges with teeth X£, X4 on either side of outer panels 1 C, 1 D. Fig.8 shows the locking hoop 1 E in position prior to being forced onto the gripper 1 from one side. Since the gripper 1 and the locking hoop 1 E are symmetrical, this can be done from either side of the gripper 1 . Fig.9 shows the gripper 1 from the other side in the open position ready to receive a garment. Fig.10 shows the obverse in the open position. Fig.1 1 shows the gripper 1 in the closed but unlocked position, where the arm1 B embeds between the two toothed edges X3, X4 on the facing edges of the outer panels 1 c, 1 D and Fig.12 shows the gripper 1 locked with the locking hoop 1 E pushed downward over the locking spur 7 located at the rear of the gripper 1 . In Fig.13, the way the gripper 1 may be deployed on a standard hanger 1 1 , using the slots 4A, 4C to attach the gripper 1 to the hanger 1 1 is shown with the gripper(s) 1 holding pants 12 in the locked position.

[00107] Figs.14-19 show in elevation, the components 2A, 2C, 2B of the second gripper 2. The tube 2B has now replaced the two outer panels 1 C, 1 D of the previous gripper 1 , and instead of a rotating arm 1 B, a substantially planar panel 2A roughly in the shape of the letter‘L’ turned through 90 degrees has been made with the horizontal part 16 cut to slide through apertures 20, on the front of the tube 2B, and 21 at the back, so that the vertical drop-down arm13, comprising a toothed inner edge X5, can move against the part of the tube 2B from which a section has been removed along the length of the tube 2B below the front aperture 20 to create two toothed parallel edges X6, X7, to locate between the two said edges X6, X7. The gripper 2 is locked by means of the aperture 14 cut through the horizontal section 16, at the end protruding from the opposite side of the tube 2B and formed as a right-angled triangle 14 with the hypotenuse formed as an arc to accommodate a lever 2C which is inserted vertically into the aperture 14 along the vertical outer edge of the aperture 14, its bottom edge indent 19 fixed at the intersection of the vertical and horizontal sides of the aperture 14, and turned with its top-edge indent 18 running downwards along the circumference of the arc, and against the outer back surface of the tube 2B from which the panel 16 protrudes, forcing the panel 16 outwards through the apertures and pulling the vertical arm 13 into the space between the ridges X6, X7, trapping any garment placed between the jaws 13, X6, X7. When the lever 2C is horizontal within the aperture14, the gripper 2 is locked. The apparatus has been equipped with slots 22, 23 to attach to a standard hanger 1 1.

[00108] The third gripper 3 is substantially the same except for the way the apparatus 3 is compressed and locked. In this gripper, a hoop 3C has replaced the lever 2C in the previous version, and works by being placed around the tube 3B and located at the back of the tube 3B by being inserted within the channel C-C cut into the horizontal section 34 as the section 34 of the panel 3A is being pushed through the apertures 24, 25 of the tube 3B above the ridges X9, X10 of the cutaway section of the lower part of the tube 3B. Pushing downwards on the hoop 3C locks the jaws 30, X9, X10 trapping any garment placed within them. The apparatus has been equipped with slots 26, 27 to attach to a standard hanger 1 1.

[00109] In the fourth gripper 35 (Figs.30-35) a non-mechanical gripper 35 has been developed by taking a tube 35, in the present case, a cylindrical tube 35, and cutting from one end, two parallel crevices X1 1 and X12 partway along the length of, and on either side of the tube 35. These crevices X1 1 , X12 may have each of their opposing edges configured by having contours of one kind or another cut into them, to increase resistance to any fabric held between them. In the present embodiment, these consist of teeth cut into each opposing edge of each crevice X1 1 , X12. The gripper works by fabric or clothing being forced into the open end of the crevices X1 1 , X12 and pushed upwards along these crevices X1 1 , X12 until said fabric or clothing is gripped firmly between the crevices. To remove the clothing from the gripper, a firm pull is will achieve this. Fig.30 shows the gripper in a front elevation, Fig.31 , in a back elevation, and Figs.32, 33 elevations from both sides. Fig.35 shows how the gripper 35 may be deployed on a standard hanger 1 1 , by means of slots 36, 37 cut into the top of the gripper 35, to hold pants 12.

Second Embodiments

[001 10] According to the present invention therefore, Fig.36 shows in elevation, a planar hanger profile 1 with a series of panels 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 the central panel 6 having a hook 3 attached, separated by fold lines A-A, B-B, C-C, D-D, E-E extending outwards from the lower edge of the hanger profile 1. Fig.37 shows the hanger profile 1 with the panels 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 folded inwards along the fold-lines A-A, B-B, C-C, D-D, E-E and set across the surface of the hanger 1 to form a series of‘pedestals’ 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, with another hanger profile 2 set above, prior to fixing to the first hanger profile 1 by being set upon the pedestals 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 to line-up with the first hanger profile 1. Fig.38 shows again in elevation the conjoined hanger profiles, 1 ,2 with the hanger profile 2 being at the front.

[001 11 ] Fig.39 shows a cross-bar 9, with tabs 10L, 10R extending outwards from either end. Fig.40 shows how the cross-bar 9 may be locked into the conjoined profiles 1 ,2 by the tabs 10L, 10R being inserted between the outer ends of arms 1 L, 2L and 1 R, 2R of the hanger profile 1 , to rest upon the pedestals 4 and 8 respectively.

[001 12] (Figs.41-51 are schematic drawings showing the assembly process in

Isometric/perspective view.)

[001 13] Fig.41 shows the hanger profile 1 with the panels 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 extending from the lower edges of the arms 1 L, 1 R, the central panel 6, having a hook 3 attached. Fig.42 shows how the panels 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 may have glue G applied, and the arrows indicate how these may be folded inwards along fold-lines A-A, B-B, C-C, D-D, E-E to form a series of pedestals 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, seen in situ in Fig.43, and having more adhesive G applied to their exposed surfaces, in preparation for the attaching of another hanger profile 2, seen in Fig.44 set above the first hanger 1 , which is now lifted from the surface by being supported at the outer ends of the arms 1 L, 1 R between two parallel supports X,Y, prior to being set upon the pedestals 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, to line up with the first hanger profile 1. In Fig.45 the hanger profiles 1 ,2 are seen joined and in situ, the second hanger profile 2 resting upon the pedestals 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 lined up with the first hanger profile 1 , the assembled hanger 1 ,2,3 resting at the outer edges of the arms 1 L,2L and 1 R,2R upon the supports X,Y, with downward pointing arrows indicating how pressure is to be exerted upon the centre of the hanger profile 1 . Fig.46 shows how continued pressure, indicated again by downward-pointing arrows, exerted on the assembled hanger profile 1 ,2,3 causes the assembled hanger 1 ,2,3 to bend into a curve across its width, the said curve remaining after the adhesive G has set, or by whichever method of fixing has become immovable. In Figs. 12, 13 and 14, the same process s shown, but this time with two hanger profiles 1 1 , 12, one off which may have a hook 13 attached, being joined together in the same way, but without any intervening pedestals 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. These hanger profiles 1 1 ,12,13 will also retain a curve, but will not have the added width which the first hanger 1 ,2,3 has. The addition of a crossbar 9 has been described earlier with reference to Figs.3, 4 & 5.

Third Embodiments

[001 14] Fig.52 shows the two profiles 2, 3 in position, prior to being brought together to form the conjoined hanger body 1 . In Fig.53 the plan view of the hanger 1 shows the conjoined profiles 2, 3 with the bend occurring, away from the thinner profile 2 as the wet bonding material causes the hanger 1 to bend in the direction of the thicker back member 3. In Fig.54, the reversing of the curve of the hanger 1 is shown taking place as the bonding material dries. This curve may remain permanent, or may be increased in depth using the methods described in the previous, parent Application.

Fourth Embodiments

[001 15] According to the present invention therefore, Figs 55 and 56 show a substantially planar hanger 1 ,2 in elevation; Fig.55 a hanger 1 with a wire hook 4, and Fig.56, a hanger 2 with the hook 4X as an extension of the hanger 2 itself. Figs. 57-60, show how a sleeve 3 is made up from a single sheet 3 of suitable flexible material, into a rectangular shape, by folding said sheet 3 along fold lines A-A, B-B, C-C and D-D so that the end panels X and Y meet, overlap, and are joined to form the rectangular-sectioned sleeve 3. Fig.61 shows how the sleeves 3A may be manufactured and deployed in a continuous‘block’ with each sleeve 3 being detached as needed. Fig.62 shows the hanger 1 , prior to the attachment of the sleeve 3, with the metal hook 4 attached by the collar 5 to the hanger strut 6 formed by the channels 6L,6R cut downwards on either side of the hook-shank 4. [001 16] Figs.63-65 show how the sleeve 3 is attached by sliding downwards over the hook 4, to fit over and around the strut 6, exposing both the back and front surfaces of the sleeve 3.

[001 17] Figs.66 & 67 show how the sleeve 3 may be extended to form a larger sleeve 3B providing cover for the central area 7 of the hanger. Fig.68 shows in elevation, the hanger 1 with the sleeve 3 in situ. Fig.69 shows the hanger 2 where the hook 4X is an extension of the hanger 2 with the sleeve 3 in situ, having been fitted in the same way as in the hanger 1 with the wire hook 4.

[001 18] Fig. 70 shows the hanger 2, where the strut 6X is about to be fitted with a similar sleeve 3X, where the strut 6X has been formed between the channels 9L and 9R, cut into an alternative location on the hanger 2. It will be appreciated that any strut 6, 6X may be formed as an extension to the hanger 1 ,2, without being cut from within the body of the hanger 1 ,2 by means of channels 6L, 6R, 9L, 9R.

[001 19] Figs.71 -78 are schematic drawings showing the way in which the sleeve 3, may be coupled with additional attachments 3D, 3E shown in Figs. 71 and 72 respectively, by functioning also, as a collar. Fig.73 is a‘drop-over’ 3D consisting two panels, F & B, separated centrally by parallel fold-lines M-M and N-N, and which extend the area provided for information, branding, pricing or promotions. The drop-over simply drops vertically onto the top-central spur 6 of the hanger 1 between the slots 6R, 6L and extends downwards to cover the front surface 7 with one panel F, and the obverse by back panel B, of the hanger 1. Figs 74 and 75 how the sleeve 3 drops down over the hook 4 and acts as a collar to grip and make secure the upper sections of the drop-over 3D onto the spur 6 while Figs.76 & 77 shows the way another addition 3E, a single panel, with two small extensions or tabs 3L, 3R projecting outwards horizontally from the top of the panel 3E where the sleeve 3 may act as a collar to hold said panel 3E in situ when the tabs 3L, 3R project outwards over the top edges of the sleeve 3 holding the single panel 3E onto the spur 6 to cover the central surface 7 of the hanger 1 .

[00120] Finally, a small rectangular‘box' 10, made in a similar way to the sleeve 3 (Figs.57-60) with access-apertures X2, X3 cut into opposite surfaces, may be used on a hanger with, or without channels 6R, 6L, by being slid downwards along the hook 4 to rest on the central top-edge of the hanger 1 , to display information, e.g., sizing.

Fifth Embodiments

[00121 ] Fig.79 shows in front elevation, the format of the first hanger 1 , prior to its final configuration, consisting of a front panel 4 incorporating a centrally positioned hook 3 on its upper-edge, the back panel 5 which is joined to the front panel 4 along fold-line A-A and incorporating along one edge, two rows of spikes 7L, 7R each set on either side of a central panel 6. [00122] Fig.80 shows in front elevation, the format of the second hanger 2 prior to its final configuration, consisting of a front panel 10 joined at fold-line B-B to a back panel 12L, 12R where said back panel is formed in two parts 12L, 12R extending outwards on either side of a hook 9, each part having a section comprising a row of spikes 14L, 14R separated by fold-lines C-C, D-D along the horizontal length of the panels 12L, 12R.

[00123] Fig.81 shows the hanger 1 in perspective prior to formation, showing by cross- hatching, the area on the central panel 6 where glue might be applied, and in Fig.4 a

perspective of the hanger 2 shows, again by cross-hatching the possible position of adhesive on the central Panel 1 1 , extending outwards along the section of the panels 12L, 12R on the opposite side of the fold-lines C-C, B-B from the rows of spikes, 14L, 14R.

[00124] Fig.82 shows a back-view of the hanger 1 in its final configuration by the back panel 5 being folded onto the back of the front panel 4 along fold-line A-A, so that the central panel 6 is attached to the centre of the back of the front panel 4, and in Fig. 83, the front panel 10 of the hanger 2 is folded along fold-line B-B to meet and be glued to the central panel 1 1 and the strip separated from the spikes 14L, 14R, by fold-lines C-C, D-D. Fig.84 is a‘flipped-over’ perspective showing the hanger 2 from the other side, with the front panel 10 now seen below the central panel 1 1 and the back panel 12R, 12L. Fig.85 shows how the hanger 2 is formed into its final configuration with the two rows of spikes 14L, 14R folded downward along fold-lines C-C, D-D to lie horizontally over the remainder of the back panel 12L, 12R on the other side of fold-lines C-C, D-D, and behind the front-panel 10.

[00125] Figs. 86-90 are schematic drawings showing how the hangers 1 , 2 are deployed. In Fig.9 the back panel 5, comprising the row of spikes 7R is lifted away from the back of the front panel 4 at its outer end, so that a pair of pants 15 may be easily looped around one of the spikes 7R, and then wrapped around the front panel 4 at the indent 8R of the hanger 1 so that the other end of the waistband of the pants 15 may turn around the other end of the front panel 4 at indent 8L to loop around one of the spikes 7L on the back panel 5, to display the front of the pants 15 horizontally along the front of the front-panel 4 of the hanger 1.

[00126] In Fig.89, the slightly different configuration of the hanger 2 is shown where the row of spikes 14R is joined to the front-panel 10 along its upper length at fold-line D-D, which acts as a hinge, where the garment 15 is attached by lifting the row of spikes 14L outwards horizontally from the back of the hanger 2, making it easier to loop the pants 15 around any one of the spikes 14L. As in Fig.88 with the hanger 1 , the pants 15 are stretched over indent 13R, and horizontally across the width of the front panel 10 to be stretched around indent 13L, at the other end of the front panel 10 and around one of the spikes 14L, extending from the back panel 12L.

[00127] Figs. 91 and 92, show, in front and back elevation, how the pants 15 are deployed on the hanger 1 from the front and back respectively. [00128] Figs. 93 and 94, show, in front and back elevation, how the pants 15 are deployed on the hanger 2 from the front and back respectively.

Claims

1. A clothes hanger comprising:

a first planar hanger profile piece including first and second hanger arms extending oppositely from a central portion and including respective pedestal portions folded upon the first and second hanger arms and the central portion;

a second planar hanger profile piece including first and second hanger arms extending oppositely from a central portion;

the first and second planar hanger profile pieces being attached to one another with the planar pedestal portions disposed therebetween, the planar pedestal portions serving to space the first and second planar hanger profile pieces from one another.

2. The clothes hanger of claim 1 , the first planar hanger profile piece including end pedestal portions at each end of the first and second hanger arms, a central pedestal portion at the central portion of the first planar hanger profile piece and optionally first and second intermediate pedestal portions at the first and second hanger arms between the end pedestal portions and the central pedestal portion.

3. The clothes hanger of claim 2, comprising a hanger bar hooked on the end pedestal portions.

4. The clothes hanger of claim 1 , 2 or 3, comprising a hook piece attached to at least one of first and second planar hanger profiles at the central portion thereof.

5. The clothes hanger of any preceding claim, wherein the clothes hanger is bent to follow a convex shape when viewed from one planar face of the clothes hanger whereby the central portions of the first and second planar hanger profiles pieces bulge forward and the ends of the first and second hangers arms of the first and second planar hanger profile pieces recede backward.

6. The clothes hanger of claim 5, wherein the convex shape is formed by applying a pressure differential between the central portions and the ends of the first and second hanger arms of the first and second planar hanger profile pieces, which causes a lasting convex profile.

7. A clothes hanger comprising:

a first planar hanger profile piece including first and second hanger arms extending oppositely from a central portion;

the first and second planar hanger profile pieces being attached to one another;

wherein the clothes hanger is bent to follow a lasting convex shape when viewed from one face of the clothes hanger whereby the central portions of the first and second planar hanger profiles pieces bulge forward and the ends of the first and second hangers arms of the first and second planar hanger profile pieces recede backward.

8. The clothes hanger of claim 8, wherein the convex shape is formed by applying a pressure differential between the central portions and the ends of the first and second hanger arms of the first and second planar hanger profile pieces, which causes a lasting convex profile.

9. The clothes hanger of claim 7 or 8, wherein the clothes hanger is bent during setting of an adhesive or other settable substance that attaches the first and second planar hanger profile pieces to one another.

10. The clothes hanger of claim 7, wherein the clothes hanger is bent by applying a wet bonding material between the first and second planar hanger profile pieces and draying the wet bonding material.

11. The clothes hanger of claim 10, wherein the one of the first and second planar hanger profile pieces is thinner than the other.

12. A clothes hanger, comprising:

at least two planar hanger profiles disposed in face to face relation and attached to one another, each hanger profile comprising first and second hanger arms extending oppositely from a central portion;

wherein each of the first and second arms of one of planar hanger profiles includes a row of spaced teeth that are free to pinch a garment against another one of the planar hanger profiles facing the row of teeth.

13. The clothes hanger of claim 12, comprising first, second and third planar hanger profiles disposed in face to face relation and attached to one another.

14. The clothes hanger of claim 12 or 13, wherein the at least two planar hanger profiles are made from one piece of planar material and folded on each other.

15. The clothes hanger of claim 12, 13 or 14, wherein one of the at least two planar hanger profiles includes a hanger hook.

16. The clothes hanger of any of claims 12 to 15, wherein the first and second arms of the one of planar hanger profiles are attached to the first and second arms of the another one of the planar hanger profiles along and above the rows of teeth so that the rows of teeth are free to separate from the facing another one of the planar hanger profiles.

17. The clothes hanger of any of claims 12 to 16, wherein the central portion of the one of planar hanger profiles is attached to the central portion of the another one of the planar hanger profiles and the first and second arms including rows of teeth are free to separate from the facing another one of the planar hanger profiles.

18. The clothes hanger of any of claims 12 to 17, wherein each of the first and second arms of at least one of the at least two planar hanger profiles includes an indent at an end edge distal from the central portion.

19. A clothing gripper, comprising:

first and second jaw members moveable between an open position relative to one another and a closed position for gripping clothing between the jaw members; and a hoop moveable relative to the first and second jaw members to cam the first and second jaw members into the closed position, wherein the first jaw member, the second jaw member and the hoop are each made from separate pieces that are joined to one another.

20. The clothing gripper of claim 19, wherein one of the first and second jaw members is made from a tube.

21. The clothing gripper of claim 20, wherein the other of the first and second jaw members is made from a planar piece.

22. The clothing gripper of claim 21 , wherein the planar piece of the other of the first and second jaw members is slideably received in a slot through the tube of the one of the first and second jaw members to allow movement of the first and second jaw members between the open and closed positions.

23. The clothing gripper of claim 19, wherein one of the first and second jaw members is made from at least two stacked planar pieces attached to each other and other of the first and second members is made from a planar piece that is clamped between the at least two stacked planar pieces and pivotably moveable therein so that the first and second jaw members are pivotably moved between the open and closed positions .

24. The clothing gripper of any of claims 19 to 23, wherein the first and second jaw members include facing gripping teeth.

25. The clothing gripper of any of claims 19 to 24, wherein the hoop is pivotable from a first position in which the jaw members are configurable to the open position to a second position in which the first and second jaw members are in the closed position.

26. The clothing gripper of any of claims 19 to 25, wherein at least one of the hoop and at least one of the first and second jaw members includes a camming surface shaped so that when the hoop is moved, the camming surface acts to move the first and second jaw members into the closed position.

27. The clothing gripper of any of claims 19 to 26 including a slot therethrough for mounting the clothing gripper to an arm of a planar hanger.

28. A clothes hanger comprising first and second arms and at least one clothing gripper of any of claims 19 to 27 mounted on at least one of the first and second arms.

29. A clothes hanger, comprising:

a hanger profile comprising first and second arms extending oppositely away from a central section, wherein first and second channels extend downwardly from an upper edge of the central section;

a display collar comprising front and back regions including display information and side regions respectively located in the first and second channels.

30. The clothes hanger of claim 29, wherein the display collar is formed by folding a planar piece of material.

31. The clothes hanger of claim 29 or 30, wherein the hanger profile is a planar hanger profile.

32. The clothes hanger of claim 29, 30 or 31 , wherein the clothes hanger comprises a separate hook that is attached to the central section between the first and second channels or wherein the clothes hanger comprises an integral hook integrated with the central section and extending thereform.

33. The clothes hanger of claim 32, wherein the separate hook comprises a hook collar at a lower end for attaching the separate hook to the central section and the display collar is disposed over the hook collar.

34. The clothes hanger of any of claims 29 to 33, wherein the display collar includes at least one of front and back flaps extending downward from the front and back regions of the display collar and integrated therewith.

35. The clothes hanger of any of claims 29 to 33, comprising an extended display piece including at least one of extended front and back display panels and a top panel, the extended display piece disposed over the central section such that the top panel is seated on the upper edge of the central section, wherein the extended display piece is at least partly held in place by the display collar being positioned over the extended display piece.

36. The clothes hanger of any of claims 29 to 35, comprising a display box formed by folding a planar piece of material, the display box including opposed holes that allow the display box to be threaded over a hook of the clothes hanger extending upwardly from the central section.