GB2159048A - Garment hangers - Google Patents

Abstract

A garment hanger is provided with a supporting hook which is substantially offset from the centre of the hanger towards one end. The hanger serves to support a garment of uneven weight distribution in an even display position. The hanger preferably has a fixed bar portion on which the hook is substantially closer to one end of the bar portion than the other. Conveniently a clip is provided at each end of the bar portion for clipping into the waistband of a pair of trousers for example. The clips can be replaced by supports which bear against the inside of a waistband for example. The hanger is preferably an integral moulding. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Garment hangers This invention relates to garment hangers and, in particular, to hangers suitable for supporting a pair of trousers.

It is desirable that, at the point of sale, trousers are displayed hanging full length in their creases. It is known, therefore, for hangers to grip the pair of trousers in the vicinity of the waistband and for the trousers to hang full length. To accommodate trousers of different sizes, it is known for the hanger to have a telescopic construction whereby the length of the hanger adjusts to the different sizes.

All the known hangers are provided with a hook by which the hanger and the garment supported on it can be supported from a generally horizontal rail.

Most articles which are supported on garment hangers, such as jackets, blouses, underwear and the like, are symmetrical and their weight is evenly distributed. When they are on the hanger, and the hanger is suspended from the rail, the garment is supported symmetrically with respect to the rail.

This however, is not the case with trousers. There is extra material in a pair of trousers to make up the fly and, when a pair of trousers supported on a hanger is suspended from a rail, the hanger does not hang straight and the front of the garment hangs at a lower level than the back of the garment. This is unsatisfactory because it does not show off the garment to advantage.

More particularly one form of telescopic hanger has a bar with a hook located centrally thereof and has a fixed grip at one end of the bar and a telescopically movable arm projecting from the opposite end of the bar. The purpose of the telescopic arm is to simply adjust the size of the hanger to the different waistband sizes. Such a hanger is subject to the disadvantages discussed above and indeed can accentuate the problem when large waistband garments are supported since one side of the hanger is fixed relative to the hook.

According to the present invention, a garment hanger for supporting a garment which does not have even weight distribution has a supporting hook substantially offset from the centre of the hanger towards one end thereof which is adapted to support the heavier end of the garment.

In this way, the garment, when supported on the hanger which, in turn, is supported from a horizontal rail, hangs more evenly and closer to the vertical.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, it will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a side elevation of a hanger in accordance with the invention.

A hanger for supporting a pair of trousers has an elongate bar portion 1, with a pair of clips 2,3 positioned at opposite ends of the bar portion. The clips are arranged to clip in to the waistband of the pair of trousers when they are hanging full length in their creases. Because of the extra weight of material and zipper which make up the fly, the centre of gravity of the hanger and the trousers is not mid-way along the fixed length of the bar portion 1 but is located substantially closer to one end of the hanger thereby to establish a fixed displaced relationship between the hook and the ends of the bar portion substantially closer to one end of the hanger.If a support hook 4 is positioned mid-way along the length of the bar portion, the hanger does not hang horizontally and the garment does not hang vertically when the hanger is suspended from a horizontal rail.

To avoid this unsatisfactory situation, the hook 4 is positioned nearer to the centre of gravity, that is, it is offset substantially from the mid-way position of the hanger towards the end of the bar portion 1 which will carry the front of the trousers.

In an alternative form of hanger, the clip 3 at the front end is adapted to grip the fly portion of the trousers when it is turned inwards of the waistband.

At the other end of the hanger, the clip can be replaced by a support which bears against the inside of the waistband.

Preferably the hanger is integrally moulded and the principle of locating the hook in an offset position to account for uneven support for a garment can be applied to other hangers than those referred to above.

1. A garment hanger for supporting a garment which does not have even weight distribution has a supporting hook substantially offset from the centre of the hanger towards one end thereof which is adapted to support the heavier end of the garment.

2. A hanger as claimed in claim 1, including a fixed bar portion which supports the hook substantially closer to one end of the bar portion than the other end of the bar portion.

3. A hanger as claimed in claim 2, including a clip at front and rear ends, respectively, of the bar portion for clipping into the waistband of a pair of trousers.

4. A hanger as claimed in claim 3, wherein the clip at the front end is adapted to grip the fly portion of the trousers when the fly portion is turned inwards of the waistband.

5. A hanger as claimed in claim 2, wherein each end of the bar portion is provided with a support arranged to bear against the inside of the waistband.

6. A hanger as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hanger is an integral moulding.

7. A garment hanger substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawing.

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

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Garment hangers This invention relates to garment hangers and, in particular, to hangers suitable for supporting a pair of trousers. It is desirable that, at the point of sale, trousers are displayed hanging full length in their creases. It is known, therefore, for hangers to grip the pair of trousers in the vicinity of the waistband and for the trousers to hang full length. To accommodate trousers of different sizes, it is known for the hanger to have a telescopic construction whereby the length of the hanger adjusts to the different sizes. All the known hangers are provided with a hook by which the hanger and the garment supported on it can be supported from a generally horizontal rail. Most articles which are supported on garment hangers, such as jackets, blouses, underwear and the like, are symmetrical and their weight is evenly distributed. When they are on the hanger, and the hanger is suspended from the rail, the garment is supported symmetrically with respect to the rail. This however, is not the case with trousers. There is extra material in a pair of trousers to make up the fly and, when a pair of trousers supported on a hanger is suspended from a rail, the hanger does not hang straight and the front of the garment hangs at a lower level than the back of the garment. This is unsatisfactory because it does not show off the garment to advantage. More particularly one form of telescopic hanger has a bar with a hook located centrally thereof and has a fixed grip at one end of the bar and a telescopically movable arm projecting from the opposite end of the bar. The purpose of the telescopic arm is to simply adjust the size of the hanger to the different waistband sizes. Such a hanger is subject to the disadvantages discussed above and indeed can accentuate the problem when large waistband garments are supported since one side of the hanger is fixed relative to the hook. According to the present invention, a garment hanger for supporting a garment which does not have even weight distribution has a supporting hook substantially offset from the centre of the hanger towards one end thereof which is adapted to support the heavier end of the garment. In this way, the garment, when supported on the hanger which, in turn, is supported from a horizontal rail, hangs more evenly and closer to the vertical. In order that the invention may be more readily understood, it will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a side elevation of a hanger in accordance with the invention. A hanger for supporting a pair of trousers has an elongate bar portion 1, with a pair of clips 2,3 positioned at opposite ends of the bar portion. The clips are arranged to clip in to the waistband of the pair of trousers when they are hanging full length in their creases. Because of the extra weight of material and zipper which make up the fly, the centre of gravity of the hanger and the trousers is not mid-way along the fixed length of the bar portion 1 but is located substantially closer to one end of the hanger thereby to establish a fixed displaced relationship between the hook and the ends of the bar portion substantially closer to one end of the hanger.If a support hook 4 is positioned mid-way along the length of the bar portion, the hanger does not hang horizontally and the garment does not hang vertically when the hanger is suspended from a horizontal rail. To avoid this unsatisfactory situation, the hook 4 is positioned nearer to the centre of gravity, that is, it is offset substantially from the mid-way position of the hanger towards the end of the bar portion 1 which will carry the front of the trousers. In an alternative form of hanger, the clip 3 at the front end is adapted to grip the fly portion of the trousers when it is turned inwards of the waistband. At the other end of the hanger, the clip can be replaced by a support which bears against the inside of the waistband. Preferably the hanger is integrally moulded and the principle of locating the hook in an offset position to account for uneven support for a garment can be applied to other hangers than those referred to above. CLAIMS

1. A garment hanger for supporting a garment which does not have even weight distribution has a supporting hook substantially offset from the centre of the hanger towards one end thereof which is adapted to support the heavier end of the garment.

2. A hanger as claimed in claim 1, including a fixed bar portion which supports the hook substantially closer to one end of the bar portion than the other end of the bar portion.

3. A hanger as claimed in claim 2, including a clip at front and rear ends, respectively, of the bar portion for clipping into the waistband of a pair of trousers.

4. A hanger as claimed in claim 3, wherein the clip at the front end is adapted to grip the fly portion of the trousers when the fly portion is turned inwards of the waistband.

5. A hanger as claimed in claim 2, wherein each end of the bar portion is provided with a support arranged to bear against the inside of the waistband.

6. A hanger as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hanger is an integral moulding.

7. A garment hanger substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawing.