GB2090520A

GB2090520A - Anti-theft clothes hanger

Info

Publication number: GB2090520A
Application number: GB8037667A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: KNIGHT JOHN PHILLIP
Current assignee: KNIGHT JOHN PHILLIP
Priority date: 1980-11-25
Filing date: 1980-11-25
Publication date: 1982-07-14

Abstract

A coathanger which, in use, has a horizontal support over which a pair of trousers can be hung, a portion above the trouser support over which a jacket can be hung supported by its shoulders, and a rigid extension portion extending downwards below the trouser support. A lateral extension 6 may also be provided. The extension portion prevents a shoplifter from wrapping a suit which is on the hanger around the hanger and concealing the resulting bundle in a bag or other container, with a view to stealing the suit. The extension 6 renders it difficult to conceal a stolen garment beneath an overcoat or the like without causing an unsightly bulge. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Anti-theft clothes hanger This invention concerns an anti-theft clothes hanger.

Thefts from clothing shops of garments such as ready-to-wear suits and dresses have become a serious problem. In such shops dresses and suits are customarily displayed hung on racks from conventional coathangers.

In one common method, while the attention of the staff is distracted, generally by accomplices, the thief removes a hanger carrying a suit or dress from the rack, quickly wraps the garment into a bundle around the hanger, and conceals it in a shopping bag, holdall, pram, or other container. This method relies on the fact that the rolled-up suit or dress is relatively compact and can be easily concealed.

According to this invention, I provide a coathanger having a horizontal support over which a pair of trousers can be hung, a portion above the trouser support over which a jacket can be hung supported by its shoulders, and a rigid extension portion extending downwards below the trouser support.

The rigid downward extension prevents a suit or dress on the hanger from being rolled up around the hanger, and thus makes it harder to conceal.

Preferably, at least part of the hanger is made brightly coloured or fluorescent. Thus, if the thief removes the garment from the hanger prior to concealing it, the brightly coloured empty hanger will immediately attract the attention of the staff.

A different technique used by certain shoplifters is to remove a hanger carrying a garment from the rack, and to hang this unobserved from a hook or loop inside an overcoat or cape worn by the shoplifter. Although the hanger according to the invention as described above would make it much more difficult to conceal a garment in this way, this hanger may optionally include lateral projections extending at right angles to the plane of the hanger. These extensions would be near to top of the hanger and would also act as spacers when a number of garments were displayed on hangers on a rack, thus allowing bona fide customers to inspect the garments more easily. However, these projection would make it impossible for a thief to conceal the hanger under a coat or cape without creating a noticeable bulge.

The hanger may be made from any reasonably strong and rigid material, such as metal or tough plastics materials.

Various hangers embodying the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a hanger comprising a bar 1 for supporting trousers, a jacket-supporting portion 2 with sloping supports for the shoulders of the jacket, a hook 3, and a downwardly-extending rectangular portion 4 in the form of a perimeter frame.

Figure 2 shows a similar hanger, but with a tapered extension to enable the hanger to take a dress or the like with a tapered waist.

Figure 3 shows a hanger formed from a solid sheet of plastics material, with a slot 5 providing a support for a pair of trousers. The downwardly-extending portion, 4a, being solid, is particularly robust.

Figure 4 shows a hanger generally similar to that shown in Fig. 1, except that it is provided with lateral projections 6 extending out from the top of the hanger just below the hook. These effectively prevent a thief from concealing the hanger invisibly under a coat or cape.

Figure 5 shows a hanger formed from a single length of tube or bar bent or moulded to shape.

All of the above hangers are preferably of, or coated with, a brightly-coloured fluorescent material.

1. A coathanger which, in use, has a horizontal support over which a pair of trousers can be hung, a portion above the trouser support over which a jacket can be hung supported by its shoulders, and a rigid extension portion extending downwards below the trouser support.

2. A coathanger according to Claim 1, at least a part of which is brightly-coloured or fluorescent.

3. A coathanger according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, including at least one lateral projection extending at right angles to the plane of the hanger.

4. A coathanger substantially as herein described, with reference to any one of Figs.

1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Anti-theft clothes hanger This invention concerns an anti-theft clothes hanger. Thefts from clothing shops of garments such as ready-to-wear suits and dresses have become a serious problem. In such shops dresses and suits are customarily displayed hung on racks from conventional coathangers. In one common method, while the attention of the staff is distracted, generally by accomplices, the thief removes a hanger carrying a suit or dress from the rack, quickly wraps the garment into a bundle around the hanger, and conceals it in a shopping bag, holdall, pram, or other container. This method relies on the fact that the rolled-up suit or dress is relatively compact and can be easily concealed. According to this invention, I provide a coathanger having a horizontal support over which a pair of trousers can be hung, a portion above the trouser support over which a jacket can be hung supported by its shoulders, and a rigid extension portion extending downwards below the trouser support. The rigid downward extension prevents a suit or dress on the hanger from being rolled up around the hanger, and thus makes it harder to conceal. Preferably, at least part of the hanger is made brightly coloured or fluorescent. Thus, if the thief removes the garment from the hanger prior to concealing it, the brightly coloured empty hanger will immediately attract the attention of the staff. A different technique used by certain shoplifters is to remove a hanger carrying a garment from the rack, and to hang this unobserved from a hook or loop inside an overcoat or cape worn by the shoplifter. Although the hanger according to the invention as described above would make it much more difficult to conceal a garment in this way, this hanger may optionally include lateral projections extending at right angles to the plane of the hanger. These extensions would be near to top of the hanger and would also act as spacers when a number of garments were displayed on hangers on a rack, thus allowing bona fide customers to inspect the garments more easily. However, these projection would make it impossible for a thief to conceal the hanger under a coat or cape without creating a noticeable bulge. The hanger may be made from any reasonably strong and rigid material, such as metal or tough plastics materials. Various hangers embodying the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a hanger comprising a bar 1 for supporting trousers, a jacket-supporting portion 2 with sloping supports for the shoulders of the jacket, a hook 3, and a downwardly-extending rectangular portion 4 in the form of a perimeter frame. Figure 2 shows a similar hanger, but with a tapered extension to enable the hanger to take a dress or the like with a tapered waist. Figure 3 shows a hanger formed from a solid sheet of plastics material, with a slot 5 providing a support for a pair of trousers. The downwardly-extending portion, 4a, being solid, is particularly robust. Figure 4 shows a hanger generally similar to that shown in Fig. 1, except that it is provided with lateral projections 6 extending out from the top of the hanger just below the hook. These effectively prevent a thief from concealing the hanger invisibly under a coat or cape. Figure 5 shows a hanger formed from a single length of tube or bar bent or moulded to shape. All of the above hangers are preferably of, or coated with, a brightly-coloured fluorescent material. CLAIMS

1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.