GB2605799A

GB2605799A - Garment hangers and associated methods of display and supply

Info

Publication number: GB2605799A
Application number: GB2105255.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tezsezer Gökhan
Original assignee: Tam Plastik Ve Kalip Sanayi Ticaret Ltd Sirketi
Current assignee: Tam Plastik Ve Kalip Sanayi Ticaret Ltd Sirketi
Priority date: 2021-04-13
Filing date: 2021-04-13
Publication date: 2022-10-19
Also published as: GB202105255D0

Abstract

A garment hanger 10 comprises a body portion 12 on which a garment is hung and a hook portion 14, removably attached to the body portion, preferably via a mating tab (24, Fig 5a) and slot (26, Fig 5a) interconnection. The hook portion may be formed of a material that is of a different colour to the body and / or at least the body portion formed of a recyclable material, which may be thermoplastic including polypropylene. The hook may be released by pressing the tab. The hook portion may comprise a contrasting colour to that of the body portion and act as a size marker, the colour denominating a size of garment for display on the hanger. A modular hanger system comprising a plurality of hook portion and body portion components, method of displaying garments and method of supplying garment hangers are also claimed.

Description

Garment Hangers and Associated Methods of Display and Supply [0001] This invention relates to garment hangers, in particular garment hangers made from recyclable materials. The invention further relates to methods of displaying garments using such garment hangers, and to methods of supplying such garment hangers.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Garment hangers are used to display garments in retail environments, such as on hanging rails or other shopfitfing displays. A typical garment hanger 100, examples of which are shown in Figures la and lb, comprises a body portion 102, having at least one support portion 104 on which a garment may be supported, and a hook portion 106 attached to an upper part of the body portion for hanging the garment hanger on a rail or the like, for storage or display.

[0003] Increasingly, garment hangers are at least partially made from recyclable materials, and re-used to avoid being sent to landfill after first use and to help in meeting retailers' sustainability targets. For example, plastic-bodied garment hangers are well known. Also, fully plastic garment hangers, such as those with integrally moulded body and hook portions are well known. The plastic within such hangers can be granulated into pellets (for subsequent re-sale or re-moulding) at a recycling centre.

[0004] Wien a customer has selected a garment to purchase, they typically take it to a point of sale within that retail environment to make that purchase. In many specialist clothes retailers, the point of sale will include a collection area dedicated to the collection of hangers which have been removed from the item of clothing at the point of purchase so that the hangers can be collated together to be sent for re-use or recycling in batches. The collection area typically comprises one or more bulk containers or bins. Such bins can be removed from the point of sale area once full so that the hangers within can be despatched by the retailer to a specialised hanger re-use and recycling centre. A bulk container typically contains a jumble of different types of hanger. The specialised hanger re-use recycling centre is equipped to sort the jumble.

[0005] For retailers that do not just specialise in selling clothes, for example the major grocer supermarket or hypermarket stores, where clothes may be sold alongside foodstuffs, household items, and the like, there are typically a great number of individual till points and self-check out stations which typically do not each have enough space to accommodate such bulk containers for collecting hangers at the point of sale, so it is impractical to collect and send the hangers off for re-use or recycling in bulk as described above; although some attempts are made, the volume recovered is low in comparison.

Accordingly, in these mixed retail environments, the customer typically takes the hanger home with them and the onus for it being recycled falls on the customer. The hanger may be used in the home, for example to store the associated garment in a wardrobe. However, even so, the hanger will reach an end of useful life, and consumers are encouraged to recycle where possible, so the used hanger may be deposited in the household recycling collection.

[0006] Household recycling systems are not set up for specialised recycling of garment hangers. In a typical household recycling stream, the household puts out one or more recycling bins for kerbside collection by the local authorities on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. There may be separate bins for different materials, but typically a whole assortment of different materials and item types will be jumbled together in a bin. By way of example, a polypropylene (PP) garment hanger may be deposited in a plastics recycling bin alongside HOPE bottles, PET yoghurt pots, assorted packaging, etc, or even in a single bin together with other materials such as glass and metals, for sorting downstream.

[0007] The hook portions of garment hangers may become entangled with other items in the recycling stream: in the collection bins, in the collection lorries, and at a recycling plant. More importantly they may also become entangled with or stuck in recycling equipment at the plant, leading to jams, break-downs and delays.

[0008] It is an objective of aspects of the invention to mitigate these disadvantages, particularly in the context of the household recycling stream.

[0009] Modular hanger systems are known, in which hangers for displaying multiple garments may be formed in various configurations, depending on the number and type of garments. An example is shown with reference to Figures 2a and 2b. A multi-garment hanger 200 comprises an upper hanger part 202 and a lower, extension hanger part 220 interconnected to one another. The upper hanger part 202 essentially comprises a conventional hanger, comprising a hook 204, which may be metal or plastic, irremovably connected to a body portion 206, typically manufactured by thermoplastic moulding, on which a garment will be hung, in use. The extension part 220, also typically manufactured by thermoplastic moulding, comprises a body portion 222 on which a second garment will be hung, in use. Rather than including a hook, the extension part 220 incorporates an extended neck portion 224 centrally. As best seen in Fig. 2b, the central neck portion 224 terminates in a protruding tab 226 with a deflectable tongue 228 for a snap-fit connection into a mating slot (not shown) formed on a rear part of the upper hanger part 202. The extension part 220 may itself also include a similar mating slot (not shown) formed on a rear part thereof to receive additional modular hanger components, such as a further extension part 220 to form a hanger suitable for the display of three garments.

[0010] The body portions 206, 222 of the respective upper and lower parts may be similar, for example to display two similar garments, as may be the case for a two-pack of shirts, for example, as per the example of Fig. 2a, or may be differently shaped. One such example is shown in Fig. 2c, in which a multi-garment hanger 200a comprises an upper part 202 as described above, which may display a shirt, and a dissimilar lower extension part 230 that comprises a body portion 232 on which a second garment such as trousers will be hung, in use. In this example, the lower extension part 230 is connected to the upper hanger part 202 via an intermediate member 240 rather than being directly connected. The intermediate member 240 comprises an elongate rod 242 that terminates at an upper connector 244 on one end and a lower connector 246 at an opposite end. The upper connector 244 is similar in form to the protruding tab 226 of the extension part 220 of Fig. 2b, for a compatible snap-fit connection to the mating slot of the upper hanger part 202. Likewise, the lower connector 246 is similar in form to the upper connector 244, for a compatible snap-fit connection to a mating slot 234 of the lower extension part 230.

[0011] The snap-fit connections of such modular hanger systems are typically designed for ease of connection, but not to be releasable; on the contrary, multi-garment hangers constructed from such modular components have been designed to be as robust as equivalent fully integrally moulded hangers and are not intended to be taken apart once constructed.

[0012] To produce such modular multi-garment hangers, it is typical to use a multi cavity mould tool for the upper hanger part 202. The mould tool may thus include, for example, four, six, or eight cavities for throughput efficiency and because every hanger 200, 200a in a range will necessarily include this upper part. Only a low cavity mould tool -e.g. including one or two cavities -is typically used for extension parts 220 or 230 because the demand for the extension parts is not as high, owing to the fact that different extension parts can be used in the modular system. As a result, at least two mould tools are required to produce each type of multi-garment modularly constructed hanger. Moreover, because the capacity of the mould tool for the extension part is typically low, it is inefficient to produce multi-pack hangers (e.g. the type having multiple extension parts of the same type, to display 2-, 3-and 4-similar garments).

[0013] It is accordingly an object of aspects of the invention to mitigate these disadvantages.

[0014] Currently, garment hangers may incorporate a size marker or indicia tag that is removably connected to a neck portion of the hanger, between the hook and body portions thereof, to provide an indication of the size of garment displayed on the hanger yet which can be removed for re-use of the garment hanger or indicia tag or both. Such indicia tags can be removed manually or in a more automated manner at a specialised hanger re-use recycling centre. One example is disclosed in GB2464115. An exemplary display of such known garment hangers is shown in Figure 13, where different colours of indicia tag 110 and printed markings denote the size of the associated garment.

[0015] Some problems with such indicia tags include that they may become separated from the associated hanger inadvertently, leading to separated tags on the retail floor and leaving a customer unable to readily view the size of the garment on the display. Also, because these known tags are attached to the neck of the hanger, they are necessarily of a relatively small size, which may be difficult to discern from a distance or may be obscured by other garments in the display. Furthermore, it is necessary to remove such tags prior to recycling the main body and hook portions of the hanger.

[0016] It is an objective of aspects of the invention to mitigate these disadvantages also.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0017] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a garment hanger, comprising: a body portion on which a garment is hung, in use; and a hook portion, removably attached to the body portion.

[0018] Advantageously, the hook portion may thus easily be removed from the body portion, which is particularly beneficial for the end of life of the hanger, as described below.

Moreover, because the hook portion is initially separate from the body portion, those components of the hanger may be manufactured separately and may be shipped in disassembled form. The former is advantageous in allowing greater manufacturing efficiencies, as described in greater detail below. The latter is advantageous in that a greater packing density can be achieved by not having the hook portions protruding from the associated body portions.

[0019] At least the body portion and optionally also the hook portion may be formed of a recyclable material. The recyclable material may comprise a mouldable thermoplastics material, typically comprising polypropylene. By being formed of a mouldable material, the hangers may be formed by moulding, thus to be manufactured quickly and efficiently using existing techniques and plant. Polypropylene is readily recyclable through existing recycling systems, including those handling household recycling. The invention is particularly applicable to such hangers, which are the type typically used for clothes in the non-specialist retailers as described above, or specialist retailers that simply don't have the space or time at till point to remove the garment hangers, and which are fully recyclable through a household recycling system. However, it should be appreciated that the hanger could in some embodiments be made of new or non-recyclable material. Advantageously, through removing the hook portion from the body portion at least the body portion can be passed through a recycling system with a greatly reduced likelihood of becoming entangled because the hook portion no longer protrudes therefrom. Preferably, the hook portion may also be passed through the recycling system, the risks of entanglement being much reduced having been separated from the associated body portion [0020] At least the body portion may be formed from wholly recycled materials. Whereas at least 30 percent recycled materials is an option, it would be preferable to use 100 percent recycled materials. Optionally, the hook portion is also formed from wholly recycled materials, such as polypropylene. Thus, the entire garment hanger may be manufactured from wholly recycled materials, and may form a self-contained cycle; materials for manufacture of new hangers being wholly supplied from recycled hangers.

[0021] The garment hanger may further comprise recycling instructions on a surface thereof, such as on a rear surface of the body portion. The instructions may, for example, be printed, engraved or moulded on the surface. This provides a clear and integral indication to an end user of how to recycle the garment hanger -by separating the component parts.

[0022] The garment hanger of any preceding claim, wherein the hook portion is removably attached to the body portion via a mating tab/slot interconnection, whereby the hook portion may be removed from the body portion by pressing the tab to release the snap-fit connection. This is an intuitive and easy to understand and to operate mechanism for the end-user. Where recycling instructions are provided on the hanger, these may typically be positioned on a rear surface of the body portion, adjacent to the interconnection features.

[0023] The hook portion may be formed of a material that is of a different colour to the body portion. The hook portion may be of a single solid-colour. The different colour of the hook portion may thus denominate a size of a garment to be displayed on the hanger, known in the industry as colour for size (CFS), such that the hook portion itself may function as a size marker. There is thus no need for a further, discrete, removable size marker, such as those of the prior art located at a neck portion of a hanger. Moreover, because the entire hook portion is coloured, the size indication thus provided is large and visually striking, more readily visible to customers, particularly from a top-down perspective.

[0024] The body portion may be grey. This is one particularly suitable option because it forms a clear contrast with an associated coloured hook portion, whilst also being readily handled at a recycling facility -in contrast to black materials, for example, which are currently difficult to handle due to being difficult to discern from the rest of the waste stream and from the black conveyors on which that stream is moved.

[0025] The hook portion may further include a size marker indication printed thereon.

Thus, in addition to the size being denoted by the colour of the hook portion, another indication may be provided, such as a printed textual marker; e.g. selected from: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, etc. This provides a clear, unambiguous indication to the customer who may not at first be aware as to which size is denoted by which colour of the respective hook portions.

[0026] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a modular garment hanger system comprising: a plurality of hook portion components a plurality of body portion components of one or more styles on which a respective garment is hung, in use; and a plurality of intermediate interconnector components; wherein each of the hook portion components is removably attachable to any one of the plurality of body portion components, and wherein each of the intermediate interconnector components is removably attachable at a first end to any one of the body portion components and at a second end to any other of the body portion components; whereby a range of garment hangers may be formed by assembling selected components from the system, including at least a hook portion component connected to a first body portion component, and, optionally, further including a second body portion component connected to the first body portion component via an interconnector component between the first body portion component and the second body portion component.

[0027] Thus, a range of garment hangers may be manufactured and supplied readily and efficiently. The system provides a hook portion component that is compatible with being connected to any one of a number of different styles (e.g. types and sizes) of body portion. Also, because the hook portion is made separately from the body portions, each of the different body portions can function both as an upper hanging part of a hanger (i.e. as a conventional body portion) and also as an extension member, connectable below another body portion (which may be similar or different) via the interconnector component. As such, a reduced number of mould tools are needed to manufacture a particular range of hangers.

[0028] The plurality of hook portion components may comprise hook portions of different respective colours. Each body portion may be formed of a recyclable material that is of a different colour to any of the colours of the plurality of hook portions, whereby a range of garment hangers may be formed, comprising a plurality of hangers in each of said one or more body portion component styles with respective hook portions in each of said different respective colours. Thus, a range of garment hangers may readily be supplied for use in displaying garments in a retail environment, with differently coloured hook portions denoting different sizes of the associated garments, easily discernible from a distance and dispensing with the need for a further discrete separable size marker; each garment hanger thus comprising just two component parts yet incorporating a size indicator. Moreover, because the hook itself comprises the size indicator, when it is removed the associated body portion can more easily be handled within the recycling system, including a household recycling stream. Additional advantages of such a system include manufacturing and shipping efficiencies. Manufacturing may be simplified because there is no need for a separate sizer to be manufactured and assembled to the hanger. Shipping may be more efficient because the hangers may be shipped in a disassembled state, with the hook portions not yet attached to the respective body portions, thereby taking up less room and enabling a greater packing density.

[0029] Advantages of the following optional features are described above in the context of the first aspect of the invention and apply equally here, mutatis mutandis.

[0030] The recyclable material may comprise a mouldable thermoplastics material, typically comprising polypropylene.

[0031] At least each body portion may be formed from wholly recycled materials Optionally, each hook portion is also formed from wholly recycled materials, such as polypropylene.

[0032] Each portion of the garment hanger may be formed by moulding.

[0033] The garment hanger system may further comprise recycling instructions on a surface of each body portion and, optionally, each hook portion. The instructions may, for example, be printed, engraved or moulded on the surface.

[0034] Each hook portion may be removably attached to a respective body portion via a mating tab/slot interconnection, whereby the hook portion may be removed from the body portion by pressing the tab to release the connection. Where recycling instructions are provided on the body portions, these may typically be positioned on a rear surface of each body portion, adjacent to the interconnection features.

[0035] Each hook portion may be of a single solid-colour. Whereas each individual hook portion is thus single-coloured, a range of differently coloured hook portions is provided.

[0036] Each body portion may be grey.

[0037] Each hook portion may further include a size marker indication printed thereon.

[0038] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of displaying garments, comprising: providing a modular garment hanger system according to the second aspect of the invention; assembling a garment hanger by: selecting a body portion suitable for a particular garment; selecting a hook portion having a colour as designated for a size of the garment; and connecting the hook portion to the body portion; and mounting the garment on the assembled garment hanger.

[0039] Thus, retailers may conveniently display garments that are easy for customers to discern the sizes of, in a neat and efficient manner, whilst meeting recyclability targets by having the hangers easy and convenient for customers to recycle through their household recycling system.

[0040] According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of supplying garment hangers, comprising: manufacturing a range of garment hangers in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, where at least the body portion thereof is formed of a recyclable material; mounting garments on the respective hangers; displaying the garments, on the respective hangers, in a retail environment; after the garment is purchased, removing the garment from the hanger; separating the hook portion form the body portion; placing at least the body portion in a recycling system; and recycling at least the body portion.

[0041] Thus, a lifecycle of a garment hanger may be made as environmentally friendly as possible: first being used for their primary purpose in displaying garments as best possible; then facilitating their recycling, particularly through a household recycling stream.

[0042] The recycled material from which the body portions are formed may be supplied from the recycling system into which the body portions are placed after use. Thus, a particularly advantageous aspect of this method is the completion of the circle: the materials from which new hangers are manufactured may be fully sourced from used, recycled hangers, or at least for the one to be fully offset by the other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] Embodiments of the invention are further described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure la is a representative view of a known moulded plastic garment hanger, showing body and hook portions thereof; Figure lb is a corresponding representative view of another style of known moulded plastic garment hanger; Figure 2a is a front elevation view of a known garment hanger for the display of multiple garments from a single hook, comprising a modular system of an upper part comprising integrally connected hook and body portions, and a lower extension part connected to the upper part; Figure 2b is a front elevation view of the lower extension portion of Fig. 2a; Figure 2c is a front elevation view of another known garment hanger for the display of multiple garments from a single hook, comprising a modular system of an upper part comprising integrally connected hook and body portions as per the example of Fig. 2a, and a different lower extension part connected to the upper part via an elongate interconnector member; Figure 3a is a front elevation view of a garment hanger according to one aspect of the invention; Figure 3b is a rear detail view of a portion thereof, showing a removable interconnection between a hanger body portion and a hook portion; Figure 4 is a rear perspective view of the hanger of Figure 1; Figure 5a is a schematic showing connection of the hanger body portion and hook portion to assemble a garment hanger; Figure 5b is a schematic showing disconnection of the hanger body portion and hook portion for placement in a recycling system; Figure 6 is a detail view of a rear portion, showing instructions for recycling; Figure 7 is a detail view of a rear portion of a modular hanger according to another aspect of the invention, showing another form of interconnection; Figure 8 is a corresponding rear view thereof further showing an interconnector component connected to a lower end of the hanger, opposite the hook portion; Figure 9 is a front elevation view of one embodiment of a modular mulfipack hanger; Figure 10 is a front elevation view of another embodiment of a modular multipack hanger; Figure 11 shows a range of garment hangers each having a differently coloured hook portion, according to one aspect of the invention; Figure 12 shows another style of hook portion, with additional size markings printed thereon; Figure 13 is a photograph of a retail display using a prior art style of garment hanger; Figure 14 is a schematic illustration of a retail display using a range of garment hangers according to an aspect of the invention; and Figures 15a and 15b respectively show representative packing densities of prior art hangers and the body portions of hangers according to aspects of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] A garment hanger 10 according to an embodiment of the invention is described by reference to the accompanying Figures 3a to 6. The hanger 10 comprises a body portion 12 and a hook portion 14 detachably connected thereto. The skilled person will appreciate that the illustrated form of the hanger 10 is merely one exemplary form and that the hook portion may take many different shapes and styles, although all generally hook-shaped to perform the function of supporting a garment from a rail or the like. Likewise, the shape of the body portion 12 to which the hook portion 14 is connected may take many different forms depending on the type of garment for which it is intended to support and depending on style. As illustrated, the hanger 10 is a topwear hanger, having a body portion 12 of a type typically used for displaying a top. The skilled person will appreciate that the invention may equally be applied to any other form of hanger style, including, but not limited to those specifically suited to the display of: trousers (pants) & bottoms, suits and jackets, childrenswear, baby clothes, dresses, underwear, accessories (such as socks, scarves and gloves), and shoes. Such hangers may include cross-bars, clips and other retaining features. The hangers may be designed to display multiple garments from a single hook portion, such as a set of shirts or underwear.

[0045] The hook portion 14 includes a hook 15 that circumscribes a rail space 16 having a mouth 18, the mouth and rail space being sized for the hook 10 to be placed on a rail or the like for displaying or storing a garment or garments supported on the body portion of the garment hanger by passing the mouth 18 over the top of the rail in a conventional way.

[0046] The hook portion 14 has a proximal end 20 where it detachably connects to the body portion 12, and a free, distal end 22 on the other side of the mouth 18. The proximal end 20 includes a collar 23 and a male interconnection feature in the form of a tab 24 for releasable interconnection with a corresponding female slot 26 in the body portion 12. As best seen by reference to Figures 4a and 4b, the tab 24 includes a resiliently deflectable finger 28 that is biased towards a raised position through the inherent properties of the materials from which it is formed. The tab 24 may be inserted into the slot 26 by a simple push in the direction of the hanger body portion 12 (Arrow A; Fig. 5a, part 1). As the tab 24 enters the slot 26, the finger 28 deflects downwardly under a camming action against sides of the slot. Once the finger 28 has passed through the slot 26, it is free to deflect back to the raised position with an audible 'click' to lock the tab 24 into the slot 26 (Fig. 5a, part 2). In this connected position, respective top and bottom sides of the slot 26 (as illustrated) are abutted by the collar 23 and by a free end 28a of the finger to retain the hook portion 14 securely in place on the body portion 12. Fig. 6 shows the connection in detail.

[0047] To release the connection (Fig. 5b, part 1), a user presses on the finger 28 to urge the free end 28a thereof downwardly to align with the slot 26. That frees the tab 24, ergo the hook portion 14, to be disconnected from the body portion 12 by pulling the hook portion 14 away from the body portion (Arrow B; Fig. 5b, part 2). The skilled person will understand that other forms of snap-fit interconnection may be employed.

[0048] At least the body portion 12, comprising the largest volumetric part of the hanger 10, may then be placed in the recycling system, represented by a collection bin 30. Preferably, the hook portion 14 is also deposited into the recycling system 30.

[0049] At least the body portion 12 and preferably also the hook portion 14 of the hanger 10 is typically manufactured of a recyclable material, such as a mouldable thermoplastic.

Polypropylene is one exemplary material, but the skilled person will appreciate that the component parts of the hanger 10 could instead be formed of many other materials. Certain advantages of the invention are particularly apparent when applied to a whole hanger in which both the hook portion 14 and the body portion 12 are manufactured from such a recyclable material, for example by injection moulding or blow moulding, because if made from a single recyclable material, they are more readily recycled than if the hook portion 14 were to be made of a different material to the body portion 12. At present, recycling streams that handle household recycling are more readily able to process polypropylene articles than those of other materials, such as polystyrene.

[0050] To maximise the likelihood of an end-user (e.g. a retail customer) undertaking the necessary actions to recycle the component parts of the hanger 10 as desired, instructions may be integrated into the hanger 10 itself, for example in the form of embossed, engraved, printed or moulded text and icons 34 on a surface of the body portion 12. Preferably, the instructions are positioned adjacent to the snap-fit interconnection features 24, 26, 28 so as to be as clear and intuitive as possible.

[0051] The finger 28 may be more thumb shaped, as shown in an alternative embodiment of the hook portion 14 of Figure 7, to provide a larger surface area to be pressed. The finger 28 may have a narrower root 28b opposite the free end 28a to provide a lower required deflection force. These features each help to ease removal of the hook portion 14.

[0052] In Figure 7, the body portion 12 is shown including a first slot 26 for releasably receiving the mating interconnecting features of the hook portion 14, as described above with reference to Figures 5a to 6. The first slot 26 is positioned towards an upper side of the body portion 12. In this embodiment, there is also a corresponding second slot 27 positioned towards a lower side of the body portion 12. That second slot 27 can receive another component as part of a modular garment hanger system.

[0053] Figure 8 shows an additional component, in the form of an interconnector 50, releasably connected to the second slot 27. The interconnector 50 has a central body portion 52 and a first male interconnection feature in the form of a tab 54. The tab 54 includes a resiliently deflectable finger 58 that is biased towards a raised position through the inherent properties of the materials from which it is formed. The tab 54 may be inserted into the second slot 27 by a simple push in the direction of the hanger body portion 12. Although not shown, the interconnector 50 also has a second male interconnection feature in the form of a tab 54 at an opposite end to the first male interconnection feature. As such, the interconnector 50 is preferably symmetrical.

[0054] Preferably, the tabs 54 of the interconnector are each identical in size and shape to the tab 24 of the hook portion 14, and the second slot 27 is identical in size and shape to the first slot 26. That way, the tabs 54 of the interconnector 50 may be connected to either the first or second slots 26, 27 to enable multiple different configurations of the component parts. One example is shown in Figure 9, in which a 2-pack hanger 300 suitable for displaying a pair of tops, for example, comprises a hook portion 14 as described above, and a first, upper body portion 12 releasably connected thereto via the mating interconnection of the hook portion tab 24 with the first slot 26, as described above. An interconnector 50 is releasably connected to a lower side of the first body portion 12 via the mating interconnection of the first tab 54 of the interconnector 50 and the second slot 27, as described above by reference to Figure 8 in particular. The second tab 54 of the interconnector 50 is releasably connected to the first slot 26 of a second, lower body portion 12. The first and second body portions 12 in this embodiment are identical. Additional interconnectors 50 and further body portions 12 may be added below to form 3-pack, 4-pack, etc. hangers.

[0055] It is not necessary for the body portions 12 to be identical and there are many circumstances where it is advantageous to include different body portions in a single hanger, for example to display a 2-part top and bottom combination, such as for a pyjama set. One example is shown in Figure 10, in which a 2-pack hanger 400 suitable for displaying a top and bottoms, for example, comprises a hook portion 14 as described above, and a first, upper body portion 412 in the form of a clip hanger comprising a cross member 414 from which depend a pair of clips 416. Although not shown, the upper body portion 412 includes a first slot towards an upper end thereof identical to the first slot 26 described above, and a second slot 27 towards a lower end thereof identical to the second slot 27 described above. An interconnector 50 is releasably connected to a lower side of the first body portion 412 via the mating interconnection of the first tab 54 of the interconnector 50 and the second slot 27, as described above. The second tab 54 of the interconnector 50 is releasably connected to the first slot 26 of a second, lower body portion 12, which in this case is the same type as shown in the embodiments of Figures 8 and 9.

[0056] It will be appreciated that provided each body portion component includes both first and second slots 26, 27 that are the same dimensions as one another and that the respective tabs 24, 54 of the hook portion and the interconnector are all and matingly compatible with those slots 26, 27, then these components can be interconnected in any number of different configurations to form multi-pack garment hangers suitable for their particular application. As just one example, the first body portion 412 and the second body portion 12 of the hanger 400 could be swapped so that the 'second' body portion 12 is uppermost, adjacent to the hook portion 14, with the 'first' body portion 412 then being disposed below the 'second' body portion 12. Accordingly, a whole range of multi-pack hangers can be formed from a limited number of modular component parts. In particular, the body portion components can be any one of uppermost, lowermost or anywhere in between, so there is no need for different tooling for the uppermost part incorporating an

integral hook component, as in the prior art.

[0057] As such, the number of tools needed for a range of hangers can be greatly reduced. For an example, for a complete set of lop' hangers requires 9 sizes of top hangers: 22cm for baby wear; 26 cm, 30 cm, 33 cm, 36 cm, 38 cm for kids wear; 41 cm, 43 cm, 47 cm for adults wear. If a hanger supplier were to follow the prior art approach of Figures 2a to 2c they would need to build 18 tools to cover the full range of top hangers (i.e. a simple hanger for a single top, which incorporates an integral hook portion) and 2pk, 3pk, 4pk set hangers (which each include 'extension' body portions with no hanger portion respectively connected to the uppermost simple hanger with the integral hook), as per Table 1 below: Top hangers 22 cm Baby wear 1. tool Top hangers 26 cm Kids wear 2. tool Top hangers 30 cm Kids wear 3. tool Top hangers 33 cm Kids wear 4. tool Top hangers 36 cm Kids wear 5. tool Top hangers 38 cm Kids wear 6. tool Top hangers 41 cm Womens wear 7. tool Top hangers 43 cm Unisex adults 8. tool Top hangers 47 cm Mens wear 9. tool Extension part 22 cm Baby wear 10. tool Extension part 26 cm Kids wear 11. tool Extension part 30 cm Kids wear 12. tool Extension part 33 cm Kids wear 13. tool Extension part 36 cm Kids wear 14. tool Extension part 38 cm Kids wear 15. tool Extension part 41 cm Womens wear 16. tool Extension part 43 cm Unisex adults 17. tool Extension part 47 cm Mens wear 18. tool

Table 1

[0058] In the modular system of aspects of the present invention, the same top hanger tool can be used to produce not only the uppermost body portion (to which the hook portion will be attached), but also any 'extension' body portions. Thus, only eleven tools need to be built to cover the entire range, as per Table 2 below, which greatly reduces the lead time for tool building, reduces the investment required and reduces the product cost by producing extension parts, interconnectors and hook portions all within high cavity tools.

10 15 20 Top hangers 22 cm Baby wear 1. tool Top hangers 26 cm Kids wear 2. tool Top hangers 30 cm Kids wear 3. tool Top hangers 33 cm Kids wear 4. tool Top hangers 36 cm Kids wear 5. tool Top hangers 38 cm Kids wear 6. tool Top hangers 41 cm Womens wear 7. tool Top hangers 43 cm Unisex adults 8. tool Top hangers 47 cm Mens wear 9. tool lnterconnector For all sizes 10. tool Hook portion For all sizes 11. tool

Table 2

[0059] With further reference to Figures 11, 12 and 14 in particular, advantages of aspects of the invention are particularly apparent when the hook portion 14 is of a single solid colour, and wherein the body portion 12 is of a contrasting monotone, such as a solid grey. The single solid colour of the hook portion 14 may thus denominate a size of a garment to be displayed on the hanger 10. The hook portion 14 thus itself functions as a size marker. There is thus no need for a further, discrete, removable size marker, such as those of the prior art located at a neck portion of a hanger (see Fig. 13). Moreover, because the entire hook portion 14 is coloured, the size indication thus provided is large and visually striking, more readily visible to customers within a retail environment, particularly from a top-down perspective (see Fig. 14).

[0060] In Figure 11, a range of eight different hangers 10a-h are shown, each having a different coloured hook portion 14a-h and thus each denominating a different size. Hook portion 14a of hanger 10a is pale grey, denominating XS; hook portion 14b of hanger 10b is pale blue, denominating S; hook portion 14c of hanger 10c is pale green, denominating M; hook portion 14d of hanger 10d is beige, denominating L; hook portion 14e of hanger be is pea green, denominating XL; hook portion 14f of hanger 10f is red, denominating 2XL; hook portion 14g of hanger 10g is pink, denominating 3XL; and hook portion 14h of hanger 10h is orange, denominating 4XL. Of course, other colour schemes and size schemes may be used instead, this representing just one exemplary embodiment.

[0061] As shown in Figure 12, in addition to the sizes being represented by the respective single-colour hook portions 14, a size marker indication 36 may also be printed on or otherwise marked on the hook portion. To this end, the hook portion 14 may include an integral flat extension portion 38, to accommodate the size marker indication 36 and to facilitate the printing or marking thereof.

[0062] Thus, a garment hanger system is provided that comprises a plurality of body portions 12 of one or more styles on which a respective garment is hung, in use, and a plurality of hook portions 14 of different respective colours, each removably attachable to any one of the plurality of body portions 12. Each body portion 12 is formed of a recyclable material that is of a different colour to any of the colours of the plurality of hook portions 14, whereby a range of garment hangers 10a-10g may be formed, comprising a plurality of hangers in each of said one or more styles, with respective hook portions 14 in each of said different respective colours. The system thus enables manufacturers to produce a set of differently coloured hook portions 14 for connection to a corresponding first set of body portions 12 to produce a set of hangers 10 for a whole range of sizes. Moreover, the modular nature of the system means that a set of the same type of hook portions 14 can also be connected to a second corresponding set of body portions 12 of a different style to the first to produce a set of hangers 10 for a whole range of sizes in that different style. An advantage of this approach is that the body portions can be manufactured separately from the hook portions and thus the tooling can take up a smaller physical space overall (due to the reduced size of a body portion in comparison to a whole hanger); although the hook portions will also need to be manufactured separately, the common design of the hook portions, connectable to any of a number of different body portions, means that just one set of tooling for the hook portions is required for the whole range of hangers.

[0063] A method of displaying garments thus comprises providing a garment hanger system as described above, assembling a garment hanger 10 by: selecting a body portion 12 suitable for a particular garment; selecting a hook portion 14 having a colour as designated for a size of the garment; and connecting the hook portion 14 to the body portion 12, and mounting the garment on the assembled garment hanger 10. The assembly of the hanger 10 typically takes place at manufacture or at the site of manufacture of the garments, where the garments are also typically mounted to the assembled hangers 10 for transport to stores using the known 'garment on hanger' supply chain.

[0064] A method of supplying garment hangers 10 thus comprises manufacturing a range of garment hangers 10 as described above, mounting garments on the respective hangers 10 and displaying the garments, on the respective hangers, in a retail environment. After the garment is purchased, the garment is removed from the hanger 10, at which point the hanger may be reused or recycled. In a specialist clothing retailer, the removal of the garment may be done at the point of sale. Where, however, the retailer is not equipped to handle the recycling of the hangers 10, the customer may take the garment home on the hanger 10 and remove it at home. Once the hanger 10 has reached end-of-life and is ready to be recycled, the hook portion 14 is separated from the body portion 12, for example as described above by releasing the snap-fit interconnection. At least the body portion 12, but preferably also the hook portion 14 may then be placed in a recycling system 30 for recycling. If the garment hangers 10 are shipped in disassembled form, the method may include an assembly step of connecting the hook portion 14 to the body portion 12 prior to display at the retail environment.

[0065] Figures 15a and 15b illustrate efficiency savings that can be made by having the hook portion 14 releasably connected to the body portion 12. Fig. 15a shows a carton having a packing arrangement for moulded hangers with integral hook and body portions, whereas Fig. 15b shows similar sized body portions, separated from their associated hook portions, in a much denser packing volume within the carton. Approximately 35% fewer cartons would be needed to transport a given quantity of hangers.

[0066] Whereas in the foregoing the interconnection features have been described in terms of the hanger body portions including female interconnection features (slots) to mate with corresponding male interconnection features (tabs) on the hook portion components and the interconnector components, it will be understood that the male interconnection features could be provided on the body portion components instead, with the female interconnection features provided on the hook portion components and the interconnector components. However, providing the female interconnection features on the body portion components may provide a cleaner, neater design. Other types of interconnection feature can also be envisaged.

[0067] In summary, there is provided a garment hanger 10 comprising a body portion 12 on which a garment is hung, in use, and a hook portion 14, removably attached to the body portion. The hook portion 14 may be formed of a material that is of a different colour to the body portion 12. At least the body portion 12 may be formed of a recyclable material. By having the hook portion 14 in a contrasting colour to that of the body portion 12, the hook portion may act as a size marker, the colour denominating a size of garment for display on the hanger 10. The separability of the hook portion 14 from the body portion 12 facilitates recycling of the component parts, particularly through a household recycling stream, because with the hook portion detached from the body portion, the risk of entanglement within the recycling stream due to the hooks is greatly reduced. Moreover, by manufacturing the hook portion separately from the body portion, higher packing densities can be achieved when transporting the hanger components prior to assembly or after disassembly.

[0068] Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of them mean "including but not limited to", and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

[0069] Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

[0070] The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A garment hanger, comprising: a body portion on which a garment is hung, in use; and a hook portion, removably attached to the body portion.
2. The garment hanger of claim 1, wherein at least the body portion is formed of a recyclable material.
3. The garment hanger of claim 2, wherein the recyclable material comprises a mouldable thermoplastics material.
4. The garment hanger of claim 3, wherein the mouldable thermoplastics material comprises polypropylene.
5. The garment hanger of claim 3 or claim 4, formed by moulding.
6. The garment hanger of any preceding claim, wherein at least the body portion is formed from wholly recycled materials.
7. The garment hanger of any preceding claim, further comprising recycling instructions moulded into a surface thereof.
8. The garment hanger of any preceding claim, wherein the hook portion is removably attached to the body portion via a mating tab/slot interconnection, whereby the hook portion may be removed from the body portion by pressing the tab to release the connection.
9. The garment hanger of any preceding claim, wherein the hook portion is formed of a material that is of a different colour to the body portion.
10. The garment hanger of any preceding claim, wherein the hook portion is of a single solid-colour.
11. The garment hanger of any preceding claim, wherein the body portion is grey.
12. The garment hanger of any preceding claim, wherein the hook portion further includes a size marker indication printed thereon.
13. A modular garment hanger system comprising: a plurality of hook portion components; a plurality of body portion components of one or more styles on which a respective garment is hung, in use; and a plurality of intermediate interconnector components; wherein each of the hook portion components is removably attachable to any one of the plurality of body portion components, and wherein each of the intermediate interconnector components is removably attachable at a first end to any one of the body portion components and at a second end to any other of the body portion components; whereby a range of garment hangers may be formed by assembling selected components from the system, including at least a hook portion component connected to a first body portion component, and, optionally, further including a second body portion component connected to the first body portion component via an interconnector component between the first body portion component and the second body portion component.
14. The modular garment hanger system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of hook portion components comprise hook portions of different respective colours.
15. The modular garment hanger system of claim 14, wherein each body portion is formed of a recyclable material that is of a different colour to any of the colours of the plurality of hook portions, whereby a range of garment hangers may be formed, comprising a plurality of hangers in each of said one or more body portion component styles with respective hook portions in each of said different respective colours.
16. The modular garment hanger system of claim 15, wherein the recyclable material comprises a mouldable thermoplastics material.
17. The modular garment hanger system of claim 16, wherein the mouldable thermoplastics material comprises polypropylene.
18. The modular garment hanger system of claim 16 or claim 17, each component formed by moulding.
19. The modular garment hanger system of any of claims 13 to 18, wherein at least each body portion is formed from wholly recycled materials.
20. The garment hanger system of any of claims 15 to 19, further comprising recycling instructions moulded into a surface of each body portion and, optionally, each hook portion.
21. The garment hanger system of any of claims 13 to 20, wherein each hook portion is removably attached to a respective body portion via a mating tab/slot interconnection, whereby the hook portion may be removed from the body portion by pressing the tab to release the connection.
22. The garment hanger system of any of claims 13 to 21, wherein each hook portion is of a single solid-colour.
23. The garment hanger system of any of claims 13 to 22, wherein each body portion is grey.
24. The garment hanger system of any preceding claim, wherein each hook portion further includes a size marker indication printed thereon.
25. A method of displaying garments, comprising: providing a modular garment hanger system according to any one of claims 14 to 24; assembling a garment hanger by: selecting a body portion suitable for a particular garment; selecting a hook portion having a colour as designated for a size of the garment; and connecting the hook portion to the body portion; and mounting the garment on the assembled garment hanger.
26. A method of supplying garment hangers, comprising: manufacturing a range of garment hangers in accordance with any of claims 2 to 12; mounting garments on the respective hangers; displaying the garments, on the respective hangers, in a retail environment; after the garment is purchased, removing the garment from the hanger; separating the hook portion from the body portion; placing at least the body portion in a recycling system; and recycling at least the body portion.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein the recycled material from which the body portions are formed is supplied from the recycling system into which the body portions are placed after use.