GB2329330A

GB2329330A - Garment hanger

Info

Publication number: GB2329330A
Application number: GB9719905A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Paul Kilby
Original assignee: Ferguson
Current assignee: Ferguson
Priority date: 1997-09-18
Filing date: 1997-09-18
Publication date: 1999-03-24
Also published as: GB9719905D0

Abstract

A hanger comprises a primary component 22 with hanging means 26 which, in use, engages a rail, and a modular component 24 which is adapted to display an article 42, the primary and modular components 22, 24 being constructed to be connected together by respective engagement means 34, 36. Typically, the hanging means 26 is a hook. The modular component 24 may further comprise a further engagement means 38 for engaging with an engagement means 36 of another modular component 24. Accordingly, the hanger may comprise a plurality of modular components 24 supported upon one another, wherein the outermost modular component 44 may be used as a product identifier. The primary component 22 is preferably cruciform (Fig. 2) with the hanging means 26 fitted to a top member 32 thereof, wherein the primary engagement 34 means may be formed on the ends of both side members 30 of the cross.

Description

A Hanaer.

this invention relates to a hanger, and in particular a hanger for holding and displaying clothing such as socks, ties, or briefs.

It is commonplace in shops to display items of clothing on hangers suspended from a rail or the like. Such hangers typically comprise a hook by which the rail is engaged, and at least one hanging bar onto which the item or items of clothing are hung. The hanging bar may take the form of a clip for gripping an item of clothing to be displayed.

One known hanger for displaying a plurality of pairs of socks in a single package comprises a folded sheet of cardboard with a plurality of overlapping fingers representing hanging bars with a plastics hook mounted to a top end of the cardboard sheet for hanging the assembled package and socks from a rail. An additional overlapping finger is provided to enable a product identifying label to be visibly attached thereto.

Although the above prior art package effectively displays the socks, it is awkward to load with the socks and has to be glued in position for displaying and supporting the socks. Further, although the package can be adapted at the time of its manufacture so as to vary the number and type of clothing items that can be mounted to the package, post manufacture it is limited to the number and type of clothing items for which the package was made.

With the foregoing in mind, it is the object of the present invention to provide a hanger which is both easy to load with items of clothing, and which can be adapted to display a variety of different items of and numbers of articles of clothing, whilst still providing an effective display means for the items of clothing.

According to the present invention, there is provided a hanger for packaging and displaying items of clothing, comprising a primary piece with a hanging means for engaging a rail or the like and primary engagement means for connecting the primary piece to a modular component, and a modular component for stacking upon the primary piece, the modular component being adapted to support and display an item of clothing, the modular component comprising first 2engagement means for engagement with the primary engagement means of the primary piece. Preferably, the hanging means is a hook.

The primary and first engagement means may be provided by a plug joint connection, by male and female joining members, or perhaps by a snap fit connection.

Advantageously, the modular component comprises a second engagement means for engaging with a first engagement means of a further modular component to enable a plurality of modular components to be supported upon one another.

Preferably, the primary piece is cross shaped with the hanging means fitted to a top member of the cross, and the primary engagement means are formed on the ends of both side members of the cross, and the modular components have a corresponding pair of first engagement means.

Each modular component may be of generally U-shaped cross-section with a cross member adapted to support an article or articles of clothing, and two legs to space the cross bar of an adjacent modular component therefrom. On the free end of each of the legs, the second engagement means are provided.

The cross member may be provided with an inclined surface portion for displaying socks folded in a heel area of the sock over the cross member.

A hanger according to the present invention enables a plurality of modular components to be supported or stacked upon one another to form a hanger for packaging, supporting and presenting a plurality of items of clothing.

The or each modular component of a particular hanger can be of a selected length and shape so that different items of clothing may be provided for.

Preferably, the hanger includes a front piece provided with engagement means for engaging with the corresponding second engagement means of the modular component furthest from the primary piece, the front piece being adapted to hold the item of clothing on the modular component with which it is engaged in place, and acting as a product identifier, e.g. for displaying details about the clothing and/or the name of the outlet where it is being sold.

Although the above description has made reference to using the hanger for clothing as the product to be displayed, it will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the hanger may be used to support and display other products.

The present invention is now described in further detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a prior art sock display package; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a primary piece of a hanger according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a modular component for engagement with the primary piece of figure 2; Figure 4 is an exploded side elevation of the hanger with three modular components showing socks (in outline) on the modular components and a front piece; Figure 5 is a front elevation of the hanger of figure 4 loaded with socks and assembled; and Figure 6 is a side elevation of the hanger of figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, figure 1 shows a prior art hanger for 5 pairs of socks, made of a sheet of card 10, which is cut, scored, folded and glued, and has a hanging hook H connected to it, and a glued loop of card L to hold the clothing to be displayed in place.

This is tine consuming to assemble and load with articles of clothing.

Figure 2 shows a primary piece 22, and figure 3 shows a modular component 24, these being the two main components of a hanger 20 according to the invention. The primary piece 22 is generally in the form of a flat or planar cross with a hook 26 formed on an upstanding top member 32 thereof. The hook 26 is joined to the top member 32 via an optional identification plate 28. However, the hook may be replaced by an alternative means for hanging. The modular component 24 is generally U-shaped in plan, with a cross member 25, on the ends of which are two legs 27.

The cross includes two side members 30, on the extremities of which are projecting arms 31, on a front face of each of which there is a primary engagement means 34. The engagement means 34 are adapted to co-operate with first engagement means 36 on the extremities of a back face of the modular component 24 such that the two components 22, 24 may be connected together front to back in a stack-like fashion with the modular component 24 supported on the primary piece 22, with its cross member 25 spaced from the main part of the primary piece 22 by the arms 31. The modular component 24 has second engagement means 38 on a front face of the legs 27 thereof, similar to the primary engagement means 34 of the primary piece 22, and adapted to engage with first engagement means 36 on the rear of another modular component 24. This second engagement means 38 allows a plurality of modular components 24 to be stacked one upon another as shown in figure 4 to form a multi-component hanger 20 as shown in figures 5 and 6. The arms 31 are approximately half the length of the legs 27 for reason which will become apparent hereinafter.

A U-shaped front piece 44 is provided comprising a cross member 46 having on a rear face engagement means 40 adapted to engage the second engagement means 38 of the top modular component 24 of a stack of modular components 24. The front piece 44 provides a convenient planar surface on which to attach details of the product to be presented by the hanger 20, in figures 4 to 6 this being socks 42. It also holds the socks in place, and two legs 48 also help to do this.

The engagement means 34, 36, 38, 40 are shown as plug and socket connections, but alternative engagement means such as a male/female, or snap fit, or hook type, or VELCRO (Registered Trademark) type may be used.

As will be appreciated from the drawings, the hanger of the invention is easy to load with socks. First a pair of socks 42 is loaded onto the right hand modular component 24 shown in figure 4, by folding the socks in their heel region over an inclined surface 50 (see figure 3) of the cross member 25, whereupon the loaded component is then engaged with the primary piece 22, by engaging the primary engagement means 34 with the first engagement means 36.

Then a second modular component 24 is loaded with a pair of socks 42, and subsequently engaged with the previously described and assembled modular component 24, by engaging the first engagement means 36 thereon with the second engagement means 38 on the front face of the legs 27 of the previously described modular component 24. Because two "thicknesses" of socks are located between adjacent modular components 24, the legs 27 should be approximately twice as long as the arms 31. Successive pairs of socks can be supported and displayed in the same manner, and the final package/hanger, which may comprise up to about five loaded modular components 24 on a primary piece 22 is then completed by the assembly thereon of the front piece 44.

It will be appreciated that each of the components of the hanger can be moulded from plastics material, and the person assembling and loading the components can select the desired number of modular components 24 at will, and combine them with one primary piece 22 and one front piece 44.

It will be appreciated that the engagement means 34, 36, 38, 40 may be of any combination of male/female pegs/holes (i.e. different from those illustrated), or of other constructions, and be moulded as one with the components of the hanger.

Also, the shape/width of the components can be selected to suit the garments/items to be supported and displayed. For example, woolen sports socks would require larger and wider components than short fine cotton socks, whereas ties would only require short legs 27 on the components 24, and would not need the inclined surfaces 50.

It will also be appreciated that the primary piece 22 and/or the front piece 44 can be designed differently for different retail outlets/customers.

One of the main advantages of the hanger of the invention is its versatility. In particular, because of its modular nature, it can be used for displaying at a point of sale any number up to about 5 articles, perhaps even more, e.g. pairs of socks; also it can easily be adapted for different retailers and/or for different articles, e.g. of clothing.

It will of course be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and that modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A hanger for packaging and displaying items of clothing, comprising a primary piece with a hanging means for engaging a rail or the like and primary engagement means for connecting the primary piece to a modular component, and a modular component for stacking upon the primary piece, the modular component being adapted to support and display an item of clothing, the modular component comprising first engagement means for engagement with the primary engagement means of the primary piece.

2. A hanger according to claim 1 wherein the hanging means is a hook.

3. A hanger according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the primary and first engagement means are provided by a plug joint connection.

4. A hanger according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the primary and first engagement means are provided by male and female joining members.

5. A hanger according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the engagement means are a snap fit connection.

6. A hanger according to any preceding claim wherein the modular component comprises a second engagement means for engaging with a first engagement means of a further modular component.

7. A hanger according to claim 6 comprising a plurality of modular components supported upon one another.

8. A hanger according to claim 6 or 7 wherein the modular component furthest from the primary piece is a front piece for use as a product identifier.

9. A hanger according to any preceding claim, wherein the primary piece is cross shaped with the hanging means fitted to a top member of the cross, and wherein the primary engagement means are formed on the ends of both side members of the cross, and wherein the modular components have a corresponding pair of first engagement means.

10. A hanger according to any one of the preceding claims 7, 8 or 9 wherein the or each modular component is of generally U-shaped cross-section with a cross member adapted to support an article or articles of clothing, and two legs to space the cross bar of an adjacent modular component therefrom, and on the free end of each of which the second engagement means are provided.

11. A hanger according to claim 10 wherein the cross member has an inclined surface portion for displaying socks folded in a heel area of the sock over the cross member.

12. A hanger substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 2 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.