GB2436937A

GB2436937A - Garment hanger with wall-mountable carrier

Info

Publication number: GB2436937A
Application number: GB0705454A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Lowe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-04-03
Filing date: 2007-03-22
Publication date: 2007-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 2027-03-22
Also published as: GB0606665D0; WO2007113476B1; GB0705454D0; GB2436937B; WO2007113476A1

Abstract

A display device for displaying an article of clothing comprises a wall-mountable carrier 73 and a detachable garment hanger 70. The carrier 73 incorporates attachment means 75 which cooperate with attachment means [91.92 Figure 6] located behind the hanger 70 to attach the hanger to the carrier. In another embodiment the hanger is wedged between two or more attachment means of the carrier in order to constrain any rotation of the hanger relative to carrier [see e.g. Figure 1(a-b)]. The hanger or carrier may be provided with powered visual or audio equipment which may be activated by a proximity sensor. Dedicated promotional surfaces 76,77,95 may be provided on the cater or hanger. In a further embodiment, the hanger may be suspended from a wire portion extending from the carrier [see Figure 8(a-b)].

Description

2436937

5

10 A Display Device

Field of the Invention

15

The invention relates to a display device for displaying articles of clothing.

Review of Art Known to the Applicant

20 The closest prior art known to the applicant is the conventional hanger which is often constructed of metal wire or moulded plastics which incorporates sideways projecting arms and a hook located above the arms of the hanger so as to remain clearly visible when attached to an ordinary wall-mounted hook. The hanger is often mounted on either a hook, which is attached to a wall surface, or a rail which spans an area of free space and is 25 mounted onto walls at both ends. The hanger is placed inside the article of clothing which is intended to be hung and both the hanger and the article of clothing are mounted and suspended in place.

Problem to be Solved

30

The problem to be solved is how to modify the conventional hanger to achieve improved attachment to a carrier.

2

Summary of the Invention

5 In its broadest independent aspect, the invention provides a display device for displaying an article of clothing comprising a wall-mountable carrier and a hanger; characterised in that: A) said carrier incorporates attachment means which co-operate with attachment means located behind said hanger to attach the hanger to the carrier; and/or B) the hanger is wedged between two or more attachment means of said carrier in order 10 to constrain any rotation of the hanger relative to the carrier.

A) and B) are alternative solutions to the above common problem. Under the configuration defined in A), the attachment of the hanger to the carrier will be concealed to give the appearance that the hanger is integral to the display device. It will improve the 15 strength of the attachment and reduce the risk of inadvertently detaching the hanger from its carrier. Under the configuration defined in B), the attachment of the hanger to the carrier will prevent any lateral movement by having more than one attachment point. An improved secure attachment can thus be achieved.

20 In a subsidiary aspect in accordance with the invention's broadest independent aspect, the carrier and/or hanger incorporates a rotatable disc.

Information can thus be displayed on both sides of the disc such as promotions or pictures so that the user of the display device can rotate the disc to display alternative promotions 25 or pictures if required.

In a further subsidiary aspect, the carrier incorporates a wire which bends away from the carrier in order to space the hanger from said carrier; the wire forming an eye for cooperation with a hook located behind the hanger.

30

This configuration is particularly advantageous because the hanger in this configuration may give the effect that the article of clothing is floating in front of the display device. It also spaces the article of clothing from the wall, when the carrier is wall mounted, in order

3

to avoid the article of clothing unnecessarily rubbing against brickwork. The article of clothing is thus less prone to damage than in the prior art.

In a further subsidiary aspect, the attachment means comprises one or more releasable 5 push fits.

This configuration is particularly advantageous because it allows the hanger to be repeatedly located in the same position relative to the carrier. It also allows the hanger to be more securely attached to the carrier whilst being more rapidly and directly releasable 10 from the carrier than in the prior art.

In a further subsidiary aspect, the carrier comprises two projections corresponding to edge cut-outs of said hanger in order to wedge said hanger in position between the projections.

15 In a further subsidiary aspect, the carrier incorporates a picture frame with a removable transparent member and means for securing said carrier to a wall are located beneath said removable transparent member.

This configuration is particularly advantageous because the means for securing can be 20 concealed beneath the picture display. There is no requirement for additional covers located over the securing means.

In a further subsidiary aspect, the carrier incorporates one or more powered audio and/or visual portions.

25

This configuration is particularly advantageous because the carrier will attract the attention of potential customers, when passing by, operating display devices such as lights, DVDs or electronic screens showing an advertisement film clip and/or brand logo.

30 In a further subsidiary aspect, the hanger incorporates one or more powered audio and/or visual portions.

4

This configuration is particularly advantageous because the hanger will attract the attention of potential customers, when passing by operating display devices such as light, LEDs or electronic screens showing an advertisement film clip and/or brand logo.

5 In a further subsidiary aspect, the hanger and/or carrier incorporate the means of activating said audio and/or visual portions as the hanger is attached to the carrier.

This configuration is particularly advantageous because the display device's components will only activate, when the merchandise is put on display via the hanger. The display 10 device's components will cease to function when the hanger js removed. This will stop the display device from functioning when there is no merchandise on display, and eliminate the likelihood of annoying a customer who may wish to remove the merchandise for inspection and/or fitting.

15 In a further subsidiary aspect a display device comprising a proximity sensor which activates said audio and/or visual portions.

This configuration is particularly advantageous because the display device will only activate its display components, when a potential customer passes by. This will eliminate 20 any other unnecessary operation, whilst there are no potential customers within the immediate vicinity of the display device. This will eliminate a potential cacophony of noise from two or more display devices, which the potential customer may find unpleasant. This will also increase the operating life of the display device.

25 Brief Description of the Figures

Figure 1(a) shows a plan view of the display device showing the hanger attached by being wedged onto the carrier.

30 Figure 1(b) shows a side view of the display device showing the hanger attached by being wedged onto the carrier.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the display device showing the hanger detached from the two projections on the carrier.

5

Figure 3 shows a plan view of a further embodiment of the display device with the hanger attached by being wedged between two projections from the carrier.

5 Figure 4 shows a side view of the display device in a further embodiment showing the hanger attached by releasable push fits to the carrier.

Figure 5 shows a plan view of the display device of the embodiment of figure 4 showing the hanger detached from the releasable push fits on the carrier.

10

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the constituent parts required for the display device of a further embodiment which incorporates releasable push fits.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the display device of the embodiment of figure 6 with 15 the hanger attached onto the carrier using releasable push fits.

Figure 8(a) shows a plan view of a further embodiment of the display device showing the hanger attached by a hook onto a formed wire mounted in the carrier.

20 Figure 8(b) shows a side view of the display device showing the hanger attached by a hook onto a formed wire mounted in the carrier.

Figure 9 shows a front view of the hanger with a releasable badge detached.

25 Detailed Description of the Figures

Figure 1 (a) shows a display device with a hanger 1 with two sideways projecting arms 2 and 3. The arms extend from the lower portion of a junction member 4. The junction member may be shaped in the form of a shield or crest whose width gradually increases 30 from bottom to top. The arms increase in diameter or width from their fixed end 5 to their free end 6. Above the arms, the junction member incorporates two substantially semi-circular cut-outs 7 and 8 at respective edge locations. The junction member 4 also incorporates a rotatable disc 9 which is linked to the body of the junction member through

6

an axle or imaginary axle. The junction member 4 incorporates a dedicated surface area 10 for promoting displayed items.

The junction member 4's front surface plane incorporates a tapered region 13 towards its 5 edge. The junction member 4 of the hanger 1 is attached to the carrier 11 by being wedged between two perpendicular projections 14 and 15, which locates in the two substantially semi-circular cut-outs 7 and 8 in junction member 4.

The carrier member 11 of the display device maybe shaped to promote the article of 10 clothing being displayed. The carrier member incorporates a dedicated surface area 12 for promoting displayed items.

Figure 1(b) shows the attachment of the hanger 1 to the carrier 11 by being wedged on to the configured perpendicular projections 14 and 15 which have been formed to ensure the 15 hanger 1 is attached in parallel and at a predetermined distance from the carrier 11.

The junction member 4 of the hanger incorporates semi-circular cut-outs such as cut-out 7 which have tapered inner surfaces 16. The junction member 4 is attached to the perpendicular projections such as projection 15. Each perpendicular projection has a curved 20 recess 17 in its circumference. The cut-out tapered inner surface 16 of junction member 4 locates in the curved recess 17 in the outer circumference of each perpendicular projection. The location of the curved recess in the outer circumference of each perpendicular projection determines the distance which the hanger is held away from the carrier.

25 The carrier 11 incorporates a curved front surface 18 which is convexed about a centre vertical axis; the curved surface is thicker about the centre vertical axis and gets thinner towards the periphery of the carrier 19.

The junction member 4 front 20 and rear 21 surface planes are tapered towards a central 30 vertical axis 22.

Figure 2 shows a hanger 1 detached from the perpendicular projections 14 and 15 on the carrier 11. Carrier 11 which maybe shaped to promote the article of clothing is still

7

capable of promoting the article of clothing in the absence of hanger 1 and article of clothing by its shape and promotional surface 12.

Hanger 1 is still capable of promoting the article of clothing, when the article is missing 5 due to hanger 1 promotional surfaces 10, 22 and the promotional display housed by a rotatable disc. 9. The hanger 1 has a junction member 4 which shows the front surface tapered edge 13.

Figure 3 shows a hanger 30 which is attached onto the configured perpendicular 10 projections 31 and 32 from carrier 33. Hanger 30 is shown to have utilised the rotatable disc 34 and the dedicated promotional surface areas 35, 36, 37 and 38. The hanger 30 is shown to have a plastic filament 39 configured as arms which has a uniform thickness through out. The hanger 30 has an attached symbol/icon 40 which represents the article of clothing being displayed. This particular symbol is the letter "7" which allows the 15 hanger to also be attached in conventional fashion. The symbol 40 is preferably detachable. It can be secured into a friction jaw located in the upper portion of the hanger which could allow the letter "7" to be located at a number of locations in the jaw. The letter "7" can be made to slide relative to the jaw.

20 The junction member 41 of the hanger of figure 3 narrows from top to bottom but does not incorporate edge cut-out as in the embodiment of figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 shows the attachment of a hanger 45 to a carrier 46 by using releasable push fits 47. In this embodiment, the push fits are attachments with two mating halves of the 25 tongue and groove type. The length of the push fits 47 determines the distance which hanger 45 is held away from the carrier 46.

The carrier 46 encompasses a round shape which has a tapered outside edge 48. The carrier 46 incorporates a curved front surface 49 which is convex about both the vertical 30 and horizontal axes. The curved surface is thicker about the centres of both the vertical and horizontal axes and gets thinner towards the periphery of the carrier 46.

The hanger 45 encompasses a round shape which has a tapered outside edge 50. The hanger 45 incorporates a flat front surface 51.

8

Figure 5 shows a hanger 55 detachable by releasable push fits 56 and 57 from the carrier 58. The carrier 58 is shown to be round and utilises a picture frame 59 and dedicated promotional surface areas 60 and 61. The carrier 58 shows two fixing points 62 and 63 for 5 fixing the carrier 58 to a wall.

The hanger 55 incorporates a formed wire loop 64. The term wire in this specification is to be interpreted broadly in order to cover at least metal filament wires as well as windings or elongate members of plastics material. The hanger incorporates a round junction member 10 65 which has a dedicated promotional surface area 66.

Figure 6 shows the constituent components of a further embodiment of the display device: a hanger 70 with integral struts 71, integral junction member 72, a carrier 73 which has protruding releasable push fit sockets 74 and 75 and dedicated promotional surface areas 15 76 and 77. Promotion to be displayed 78, transparent cover 79 and transparent cover restraining collar 80 are also shown.

The hanger 70 incorporates arms 81 and 82 which are connected to an integral junction member 72. The arms 81 and 82 are narrow at regions 85 and 86 where they connect to 20 the integral junction member 72 and increasingly become wider at regions 87 and 88 along the length of the arms 81 and 82. As arms 81 and 82 approach their far ends 89 and 90 they become narrower. The hanger 70 has protruding releasable push fit plugs 91 and 92.

25 The carrier 73 shows two fixing points 93 and 94 for fixing the carrier 58 to a wall.

In an alternative embodiment, hanger 70 and carrier 73 may incorporate dedicated electrical and/or electronic components for attracting people passing the display device. This may be in the form of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDS) or electrical lights. Electronic 30 screens may be incorporated to attract people passing by showing a film clip relevant to the product being displayed. This may be in the form of an advert used in a national advertising campaign. Electrical and electronic audible components may be used for playing advertising music, dedicated to a national advertising campaign or applying voice to an advert.

9

The embodiment may be enhanced further by incorporating a switch and/or sensor within the carrier 73, which deactivates or activates the electrical and/or electronic components incorporated within hanger 70 and/or carrier 73, when hanger 70 is attached to carrier 73.

5

The embodiment may be enhanced further by incorporating a proximity sensor within carrier 73 and/or hanger 70, which activates the electrical and/or electronic components within carrier 73 and/or hanger 70 when a person passes by.

10 Figure 7 shows the attachment of hanger 70 to releasable push fits 75 on the carrier 73. The hanger 70 has an integral junction member 72. The integral junction member 72 has a dedicated promotional surface area 95. The figure illustrates how the push fit attachments are hidden from view. The carrier 73 has utilised a removable picture 96 and has dedicated promotional surface areas 76 and 77. The removable picture 96 together 15 with the hanger itself hides the carrier's wall fixing locations such as screw receiving recesses 93 and 94 of figure 6.

The hanger 70 incorporates arms 81 and 82 which are connected to an integral junction member 72. The arms 81 and 82 are narrow at regions 85 and 86 where they connect to 20 the integral junction member 72 and increasingly widen at regions 87 and 88 along the length of the arms 81 and 82. As arms 81 and 82 approach their far ends 89 and 90 they become narrower.

The hanger 70 is spaced from the circular carrier member 73 and attached at a lower 25 region of the carrier member.

Figure 8(a) shows a further embodiment of the inventive display device in which the hanger 95 incorporates a hook (not shown in the picture) located behind the junction member 96 which hooks onto an eye 97 which is formed in a wire 98 which is mounted in 30 the carrier 99. The carrier 99 has a dedicated promotional surface area 100.

The hanger 95 incorporates arms 101 and 102 which are connected to an integral junction member 96. The arms 101 and 102 narrow at regions 103 and 104 where they connect to the integral junction member 96 and increasingly widen at regions 107 and 108 along the

10

length of the arms 101 and 102. As arms 101 and 102 approach their far ends 109 and 110 they become narrower.

The hanger 95 is shown to have utilised the dedicated promotional surface area 111.

5

Figure 8(b) shows the attachment of the hanger 95 to the carrier 99 by being hooked onto an eye formed in a wire 98. The protrusion of the formed wire perpendicular to the carrier 99 determines the set distance from which the hanger 95 is positioned away from the carrier.

10

The carrier 99 encompasses a round shape which has a tapered outside edge 112. The Carrier incorporates a flat front surface 113.

Figure 9 shows the hanger 70 which has a releasable badge 115, which attaches to the 15 junction member 72. The badge in the figure shows an embodiment that uses releasable press fits. Other embodiments may incorporate means to allow a badge to slide into a receptacle on the hanger 72 in order to secure the badge to the hanger 72.

Claims

Claims 11

1. A display device for displaying an article of clothing comprising a wall-mountable carrier and a hanger; characterised in that:

a) said carrier incorporates attachment means which cooperate with attachment means located behind said hanger to attach the hanger to the carrier; and/or b) the hanger is wedged between two or more attachment means of said carrier in order to constrain any rotation of the hanger relative to carrier.

2. A display device according to claim 1, wherein the carrier and/or hanger incorporates a rotatable disc.

3. A display device according to either of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier incorporates a wire which bends away from the carrier in order to space the hanger from said carrier; the wire forming an eye for cooperation with a hook located behind the hanger.

4. A display device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the attachment means comprises one or more releasable push fits.

5. A display device according to either of claims 1, 2 and 4, wherein the carrier comprises two projections corresponding to edge cut-outs of said hanger in order to wedge said hanger in position between the projections.

6. A display device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier incorporates a picture frame with a removable transparent member and means for securing said carrier to a wall are located beneath said removable transparent member.

7. A display device according to any of the preceding claims, where the carrier incorporates one or more powered audio and/or visual portions.

12

8. A display device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hanger incorporates one or more powered audio and/or visual portions.

9. A display device according to either of the preceding claims, wherein the hanger and/or carrier incorporate means of activating said audio and/or visual portions as the hanger is attached to the carrier.

10. A display device substantially as hereinbefore described and/or illustrated in any combination of the accompanying text and/or figures.

10. A display device according to any of claims 7, 8 and 9, and further comprising a proximity sensor which activates said audio and/or visual portions.

11. A display device substantially as hereinbefore described and/or illustrated in any appropriate combination of the accompanying text and/or figures.

Claims

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

13

1. A display device for displaying an article of clothing comprising a wall-mountable carrier and a hanger; wherein said hanger incorporates a front side and a rear side and one or more projecting attachment members projecting from the rear side of said hanger which extend, in use, from said hanger towards the wall; and said carrier incorporates a wall engaging portion and one or more projecting attachment members which releasably cooperate with said hanger's attachment members; and which extend sufficiently away from said wall engaging portion to space said wall engaging portion from said hanger.

2. A display device according to claim 1, wherein the carrier and/or hanger incorporates a rotatable disc which is hinged relative to the carrier and/or hanger.

3. A display device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the attachment members are releasable push fits.

4. A display device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment members incorporate one or more plugs which cooperate with one or more sockets.

5. A display device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier incorporates a picture frame with a removable transparent member and means for securing said carrier to a wall are located beneath said removable transparent member.

6. A display device according to any of the preceding claims, where the carrier incorporates one or more powered audio and/or powered visual portions.

7. A display device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hanger incorporates one or more powered audio and/or powered visual portions.

II*.

8. A display device according to either of the preceding claims, wherein the hanger and/or carrier incorporate means of activating said audio and/or powered visual portions as the hanger is attached to the carrier.

9. A display device according to any of claims 6, 7 and 8, further comprising a proximity sensor which activates said audio and/or powered visual portions.