GB2310596A - Indicia holder for garment hanger - Google Patents

Abstract

An indicia holder for a garment hanger has a main body 11 with a mounting section 13 for releasably holding an indicia element. The mounting section includes a support surface 14, a platform, eg flange 17, extending therefrom, a pair of retaining flanges 20,21 which overlie the surface 14 and define recesses for receiving the indicia element, an access opening 33,34 to each recess, and an upstanding peripheral flange 30 extending from the access openings. The holder may have resilient fingers 41,42 to allow mounting to a hanger body. Sloped ramps 36 engage the indicia member to hold it in place.

Description

INDICIA ELEMENT HOLDER FOR GARMENT HANGERS This invention related generally to garment hangers are more particularly to an indicia element holder for use with garment hangers.

Indicia elements are often used with garment hangers to indicate for example, the size of the garment carried on the hanger. It will appreciated that such elements can be used to convey other information and as such reference to sizing is not to be taken as a limitation on the scope of the invention. Furthermore by indicia is meant any suitable form of marking be it numerals, letters, symbols, colours, shape or any other form of marking.

In applicant's co-pending application Australian Patent Application 665125 there is described a sizing system which comprises a garment hanger having a hook which has a support section for receiving an indicia element. The indicia element is located against a support face and retained in position by a series of tabs which are spaced from the support face.

Whilst this system has proved to be satisfactory in use, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved arrangement.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an indicia holder for use with a garment hanger, the indicia holder including main body, a mounting section on the main body for releasably mounting an indicia element to the main body, the mounting section including a support face, a platform projecting from the support face, at least two retaining flanges, spaced from and at least partially overlying the support face so as to define locating recesses between each retaining flange and the support face, an access opening to each recess at one end of each retaining flange and an upstanding peripheral flange extending at least partially around the support face between the access openings in a direction away from the retaining flanges.

In one preferred embodiment the main body is in the form of a disc like element having a front surface defining the support face of the mounting section and a rear surface. The main body may be of any suitable shape and in a preferred embodiment it is preferably oval shaped although it will be appreciated that other shapes could be adopted. The indicia element is preferably the same general shape and size as the support face.

Preferably the retaining flanges are generally elongate in form with the access openings at one end and the other end terminating at or adjacent the platform. Preferably the retaining flanges are wider at the access opening end than at the other end with the width of flanges tapering gradually from the access opening end to the other end. Preferably, the flanges are generally curved in shape and are disposed at opposite side sections of the support face.

The platform according to a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises an upstanding flange projecting from the support face and being disposed towards the lower end of the holder. Preferably the platform has a notch formed therein intermediate its ends for reasons which will be explained hereinafter. The platform serves as a barrier, inhibiting movement of the indicia element passed the platform.

In one preferred form the upstanding peripheral flange extends continuously around the periphery of the support face from one access opening of one retaining flange to the other access opening of the other retaining flange. Preferably the height of the upstanding flange is greatest in a region spaced from the access openings, the height of the upstanding flange tapering downwardly towards each of the access openings. The tapered peripheral permits the indicia element to be readily inserted into the recesses via the access openings without obstruction. In one preferred form, apertures are formed in the support face in the region of the retaining flanges.

The indicia holder may further include ramp means on the support face and adjacent the platform. The ramp means are preferably inclined outwardly from the support the platform. The ramp means urge the indicia element towards the retaining flanges when it is inserted into the recesses so as to "tension" it and its upper portion is urged against the peripheral flange.

As mentioned earlier the ramp means may have a notch therein. The purpose of the notch is to enable the indicia element to be easily extracted from the mounting section by use of a pencil or similar tool by inserting the tool under the indicia element and lifting it upwardly away from the support face.

According to one embodiment of the present invention mounting elements are provided on the rear surface of the main body for releasably attaching the holder to the garment hanger.

The mounting elements may be in the form of a pair of resilient mounting fingers which are releasably securable to cooperating apertures in the body of the garment hanger.

There may further be provided an upstanding element which may in one form comprise an elongated rib which is disposed between the mounting fingers and extends generally from the upper section to the lower section of the main body. The rib may have a predetermined height which permits the main body to bend when fitting the mounting fingers into the apertures on the hanger.

In another embodiment of the invention the mounting elements and the rear surface of the main body is simply flat, so that the holder can be connected to the garment hanger by means of an adhesive or the like.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a garment hanger and indicia holder as described above, the indicia holder forming an integral part of the garment hanger or being securable thereto.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and in those drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of an indicia element holder according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the holder shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B in Figure 1 but with the holder attached to a garment hanger; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in Figure 1 with an indicia element shown prior to mounting to the holder; Figure 5 is the same sectional view as that of Figure 4 with the indicia device mounted to the holder; Figure 6 is a front elevation of the indicia element and the holder; Figure 7 is a partial view showing an example of a garment hanger suitable for use with the holder shown in Figures 1 to 6;; Figure 8 is a front perspective of the holder shown in Figures 1 to 6; Figure 9 is a rear perspective view ofthe holder shown in Figure 8; Figure 10 is a front perspective view of a holder according to another embodiment of the invention; and Figure 11 is a rear perspective view of a holder shown in Figure 10.

Referring to the drawings where like numerals have been used for like parts in each of the embodiments there is shown an indicia holder generally indicated at 10 comprising a main body 11 which is in the form of an oval shaped disc like element having a front face 12 and a rear face 15. The main body of the indicia holder may be formed of any suitable material and preferably a plastics material is used. The indicia holder 10 is suitable for use with a garment hanger 90 as illustrated in Figure 7. The indicia holder 10 may form an integral part of the garment hanger 90 or be attachable thereto.

The holder further includes a mounting section 13 which comprises a support face 14 which is defined by the front face of the main body or at least part thereof, a platform 16 in the form of an elongated flange 17 and a pair of retaining flanges 20 and 21.

The retaining flanges 20 to 21 are generally curved in shape extending along the periphery ofthe oval shaped main body 11. The retaining flanges 20 and 21 have a wider section at one end portion 22 than at the other end portion 23 which terminates at the platform 16. The retaining flanges 20 and 21 are spaced from the support face 14 and connected to the main body via connecting flanges 18 and 19. Locating recesses 24 and 25 are provided between the support face 14 and the retaining flanges 20 and 21. Access openings 26 and 27 are provided at one end of the retaining flanges 20 and 21.

The holder further includes a peripheral flange 30 which extends around the periphery ofthe main body between access openings 26 and 27. The peripheral flange 30 has sections of different height with an intermediate section 31 being of a greater height than the end sections 32 at each of the access openings, the height of the flange tapering from the section 32 down the sections 31. Apertures 33 and 34 are provided in the main body in the region of the peripheral flanges.

The holder further includes a pair of inclined ramps 36 which are disposed adjacent the platform 16. As shown the ramps terminate at their lower end close to the flanges 20 and 21.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 7 mounting elements in the form of resilient fingers 41 and 42 having enlarged heads 43 and 44 are provided on the back surface 15 of the main body 11. The mounting fingers are adapted to cooperate with apertures 94 and 95 in garment hanger 90 as shown in Figure 7. The garment hanger 90 includes arms 91 a hook 92 and mounting section 93 having the apertures 94 and 95 therein. In the embodiment shown in Figures 10 and 11 there are no fingers and the rear surface of the indicia element is adapted to be secured to hanger 90 by means of an adhesive.

A notch 46 is formed in the platform 16 centrally thereof.

The indicia element 80 is in the form of a disc which is generally oval shaped with a flat lower edge 81 so that its shape is complementary to that ofthe support face. The indicia element is preferably formed of material which has some resilience and flexibility such as cardboard, plastics, or the like.

To mount the indicia element 80 to the holder 10 the elements side edges are passed through access openings 26 and 27 into recesses 24 and 25. The lower edge portion of the indicia element passes up ramps 36 so that the element is tensioned and its upper edge portion is urge against peripheral flange 30. To remove the indicia element a tool such as a pencil is inserted through the notch 46 so that it is between the element 80 and the support face 14 whereby the tool is passed so as to lift the element which can deform and be dislodged from the recesses 24 and 25.

Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

Claims (12)

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. An indicia holder for use with a garment hanger, the indicia holder including a main body, a mounting section on the main body for releasably mounting an indicia element to the main body, the mounting section including a support face, a platform projecting from the support face, at least two retaining flanges, spaced from and at least partially overlying the support face so as to define locating recesses between each retaining flange and the support face, an access opening to each recess at one end of each flange and an upstanding peripheral flange extending at least partially around the support face between the access openings to each retaining flange.

2. An indicia holder according to claim 1 wherein each retaining flange is of generally elongate form with the ends thereof opposite to the ends having the access openings terminating at or adjacent the platform.

3. An indicia holder according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said retaining flanges are wider at the access opening ends than at the other ends, the width of the flanges tapering gradually from the access opening end to the other end.

4. An indicia holder according to any preceding claim wherein said upstanding peripheral flange extends continuously around the support face from one access opening of one retaining flange to the other access opening of the other retaining flange.

5. An indicia holder according to any preceding claim wherein the height of the upstanding flange is greatest in a region spaced from the access openings of the retaining flanges.

6. An indicia holder according to any preceding claim wherein the support face has apertures therein in the region of the retaining flanges.

7. An indicia holder according to any preceding claim further including ramp means and adjacent the platform which are inclined outwardly from the support face towards the platform.

8. An indicia holder according to any preceding claim including at least two resilient mounting fingers which extend from a side of the main body which faces oppositely to the support face for releasably securing the holder to a hanger.

9. An indicia holder according to claim 8 further including an upstanding element extending from said one side of the main body and being disposed between the mounting fingers.

10. An indicia holder according to any preceding claim further including a notch in the platform intermediate its ends.

11. A garment hanger and an indicia element according to any preceding claim, said indicia element being releasably securable to the garment hanger or formed integral therewith.

12. A indicia holder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.