GB2236523A

GB2236523A - Packaging of garments

Info

Publication number: GB2236523A
Application number: GB8922342A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dara Allegranza
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-10-04
Filing date: 1989-10-04
Publication date: 1991-04-10
Also published as: GB8922342D0

Abstract

A three-dimensionally contoured flexible garment such as a brassiere is packaged between a rear sheet (3) and a front sheet (4) of stiff transparent plastics, which layers may be hinged together (H). Each of the layers is three-dimensionally contoured to fit in front and behind the garment so as to hold it in shape in its extended configuration, whereby it can easily be inspected from outside the package. A snap fastener (10, 10') may be formed in the plastics material to hold the two layers together releasably. <IMAGE>

Description

PACKAGING OF GARMENTS The present invention relates to the packaging of garments, particularly underwear and swimwear.

It is usual for certain garments, such as brassieres, to be sold folded and packed into flat cardboard boxes.

These are quite economical of space, but have the disadvantage that the contents be directly inspected. A picture on the box helps, but is no substitute for being able to see the colour(s) and shape of the garment itself.

Having a sample mounted on a model allows direct inspection, but takes a lot of space and is no good where there are many different types e.g. different patterns, available. If the garments are sold loose they rapidly become creased and dirty. Even when the boxes are used, it is usual for customers to remove the contents to look at them, and then be unable to reinsert them in their previously neatly folded state.

According to the invention, packaging for a garment comprises two superimposable layers, at least one being rigid or semi-rigid so as to retain its shape, and at least one and preferably both being of transparent or translucent plastics material, between which the garment can be held so as to be at least substantially, and preferably completely, enclosed in a laminar space between conforming parts of the layers with at least a substantial part visible from the exterior. Both layers may be of the same material.

Means are provided to hold the layers together with the garment trapped in position and in substantially fixed extended configuration between them, and preferably this means is releasable and reusable so that the layers can be separated to remove the garment, and the garment subsequently replaced in the packaginng and the layers refastened. The fastener could be e.g. a press-fastener integrally formed in the plastics sheet material of the packaging.

In a preferred version the two layers are connected together at a hinge so that when opened up they do not fall apart. The two layers together may be formed by a single continuous sheet of plastics material, with a fold line to form the hinge.

In a particularly preferred aspect, especially suited to contoured garments such as brassieres, the packaging layers are contoured so as to give at least part of the garment when packed the three-dimensional form it will take when worn. Thus, for a brassiere, each of the two layers would be pre-formed (e.g. by vacuum forming) with two cups, those of the back layer nesting into those of the front layer so as to hold the brassiere itself securely between them and opened out in three dimensions. The straps and side portions of the brassiere can then be folded into the space between the layers, overlapping the cups behind since the rear view of the article is of much less interest.

Three-dimensionally contoured packages such as this may easily be formed so as to be nestable with one another.

Thus, the packaging of the present invention may be economical of space even though it can show the garment extended as on a model.

Optionally, further retaining means such as slits may be provided to engage parts of a garment that is held between the layers and thereby prevent it from slipping between the layers.

Figure 1 shows a brassiere package embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a section at II of the package shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 i a section at the same time as in Figure 2, showing the package opened out.

Referring to the Figures, a package generally indicated 1 for a brassiere comprises a single vacuum-formed sheet 2 of clear colourless plastics material. The material used may be, for example, acetate platics from O.1-O.5mm thick.

The sheet 2 has a rear part 3 and a front part 4, joined integrally along their lower edges at a hinge line H. Each of the parts 3,4 is formed with two cups 6,6', shaped and sized to conform with the outer and inner surfaces of the cups of a brassiere (not shown) to be held in the package 1.

The shape of the rear part 3 conforms closely to that of the front part 4; furthermore the sheet 2 is of material that is sufficiently rigid to maintain its vacuum-formed shape.

Consequently, when a brassiere is fitted between the front and back layers and the layers are folded together, the brassiere is held securely in position between them and with its front part extended in its three-dimensional conformation. The straps, and side pieces extending into the straps, can be folded behind into the cups and retained therewith in by the pressure of the back part 3,6' against them.

To hold the two parts folded together a fastener is required. That illustrated is a press-fastener integrally formed in the sheet 2. A hollow tubular projection 10,10' is formed at the top centre of each of the parts 3,4, such that the projections coincide and both point forwardly when the parts are folded together. The projection 10' on the back part 3 fits snugly into the projection 10 on the front part, to hold the layers securely together and thereby prevent the contents sagging and from falling out. Clearly a plurality of such fasteners, or a different type of fastener, could be used if desired or necessary to keep the assembly closed.

For extra security, the embodiment shown has narrow slits 15 in the layers at their outer upper corners. These can be used to trap the straps of the brassiere when held in the package.

It will be seen that, because the rear exterior conformation of the package 1 is substantially the same as that at the front, a plurality of such packages can be stacked compactly together. In the embodiment shown there is a hole right through the fastener projections 10,10', and this is designed to receive a rod from which a number of packages could be hung for display, nested together one behind the other.

The presently described package offers a number of advantages. The contents can be clearly seen directly, so that their colour(s), pattern and shape can be judged conveniently by the eye of the customer. Nevertheless the contents are protected by the packaging layers from dust and dirt. Should it be desired to remove the contents, the fastener 10,10' can easily be opened and the sheet 2 unfolded along hinge H as shown in Figure 3. Then it is subsequently easy to replace the brassiere in the package, because of the conforming shape, and reclose it without damaging or creasing the contents as so often occurs when commercially-folded articles are removed from and reinserted in small boxes.

Normally it is necessary for a package to include information regarding the size etc. of the garment inside, as well as trademarks, decoration and the like. In the present package this may if possible and convenient be printed or dyed directly onto or into the material from which the package is formed. Alternatively a printed card or paper insert or tag 12 may be included as shown in Fig. 1. There are several obvious ways in which such an insert or tag may be retained or attached.

It will be appreciated that the invention admits of substantial variation from the various features that have been specifically described above. For example, the front and rear parts could be separate pieces, hinged by some separate element, or not hinged together at all but rather held together by plural fasteners. One or both of the parts could be partially coloured or opaque, if the visual impression produced is thought better, provided that at least part is transparent. In certain cases one of the layers may be a completely flexible film wrapped onto the other layer which is more rigid. Such a package does not conveniently allow unpacking and repacking, however, it does give the other novel advantages described.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Packaging for a flexible garment, comprising two layers which are superimposable to form a stiff package assembly and which conform in shape so that they can be thus superimposed to define between them an extended thin laminar space, in which at least a part of a garment which is to be held sandwiched between said layers is held in extended layer configuration, at least one of the layers having transparency at said space to enable a garment held between the layers to be seen.

2. Packaging according to claim 1 in which both layers comprise stiff plastics sheets.

3. Packaging according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the at least one layer having transparency is transparent over substantially all said laminar space.

4. Packaging according to claim 3 in which both the layers are transparent sheets.

5. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims comprising releasable fastening means for holding the two layers together in the superimposed condition with a garment trapped between them.

6. Packaging according to claim 5 in which the fastening means comprise a snap fastener.

7. Packaging according to claim 6 in which the snap fastener is integrally shaped in stiff plastics material of the layers.

8. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims in which the two layers are hinged together.

9. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims in which the shape-conforming portions of the layers define a three-dimensional contoured shape.

10. Packaging according to claim 9 which is packaging for a brassiere, each layer being formed with two cup portions.

11. A garment pack comprising a garment held sandwiched in extended layer configuration between two layers having mutually conforming shapes and forming a stiff package, whereby the garment is held in a laminar gap defined between them and contacted front and back by the respective layers, at least one of the layers having transparency through which the garment is visible over at least a substantial part of said laminar space.

12. A garment pack according to claim 11 in which the garment is a brassiere and each of the layers is formed with two cups fitting respectively behind and in front of the cups of the brassiere to hold them in shape.

13. A garment pack according to claim 11 or claim 12 which is nestable with another similar pack.

14. A garment pack according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the two layers forming the package are in accordance with any one of claims 2 to 10.

15. Packaging for a flexible garment, or a garment pack including a flexible garment, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.