GB2605800A - Garment hanger packs and associated methods of supply - Google Patents

Abstract

A garment hanger pack 200 comprises at least two hangers 100, each comprising a hook portion 104 connected to a body portion. Each hanger may include an aperture 160 through a neck region adjacent to the connection between the hook and body portions, and a tie member 400 passed through each aperture and secured to itself to form a loop to retain the hangers together. Alternatively, a rigid plaque member (600, figure 6a) comprising at least one slot (610a, 610b, figure 6A) for receiving the hook portions of the at least two hangers may retain the hangers together. The tie member may comprise a reinforced paper strip with an adhesive portion, or a cable tie which may be self-locking and/or reusable. The tie member or plaque may include a region 402 for displaying information about the hanger pack. The pack may include a predetermined ratio of hangers of different garment sizes. A method of supplying the garment hanger packs includes selecting garments according to a predetermined criterion such as a ratio of garment sizes.

Description

Garment Hanger Packs and Associated Methods of Supply [0001] This invention relates to garment hanger packs, and methods of their supply. [0002] BACKGROUND [0003] A typical garment hanger comprises a body portion, having at least one support portion on which a garment may be supported, and a hook portion attached to an upper part of the body portion for hanging the garment hanger on a rail or the like, for storage or display.

[0004] One known way to supply garments from a manufacturer to a retailer is through a garment on hanger supply chain, in which garments are mounted to hangers at or near the point of manufacture, then to be transported to the retailer on those hangers within cartons, typically via a distribution network. At the retailer, the garments are removed from the cartons and displayed on the shop floor by placing the hangers on hanging rails or other shopfitting displays. For convenience, in some instances the garments may be supplied in the form of a bundle of a set number of garments on their respective hangers.

As such, the whole bundle can be unpacked and put on display at once, rather than handling each garment individually. The set number of garments, e.g. eight or ten, may be supplied in a set ratio of sizes, in the form of a so-called ratio pack. This may comprise, by way of example, two of each available size of garment. The set ratio of sizes may be in proportion to the expected number of sales of those garments, for example including more garments of a medium size than extra small or extra large sizes.

[0005] Currently, the hangers in such packs may be kept together by means of a plastic shroud passed over the whole bundle, which serves a dual purpose of protecting the garments in transit and keeps the integrity of the pack, ensuring that none of the garments become separated from the others in the bundle. It is not environmentally friendly to produce and transport the shrouds only to be disposed at the retailer.

[0006] It is also known to tie the hangers within such packs together such as by wrapping an elastic band or tying a cable tie in a loop around the outside of neck portions of the hangers, towards the bottom of the hook portion where it joins the body portion. However, this can lead to breakages of the hangers, especially in the neck area, because the cable tie or elastic band must be tied tightly in order to perform its function of keeping the hangers together and to avoid it from slipping around and off the hook portions. The retention is purely by frictional engagement of the cable tie or elastic band against the hangers.

[0007] It is an objective of the invention to mitigate these disadvantages.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0008] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a garment hanger pack, comprising: at least two garment hangers, each comprising a body portion on which a garment is hung, in use, and a hook portion connected to the body portion for engagement with a display rail, in use, wherein each hanger includes an aperture through a neck region adjacent to the connection between the hook portion and the body portion; and a tie member. The tie member is passed through each of the apertures and secured to itself to form a secure loop to retain the hangers together.

[0009] Advantageously, because the tie member is passed through the apertures in the hangers, it is not necessary to rely on frictional engagement to retain the hangers together and it is accordingly not necessary to tie the tie member so tightly. This reduces the likelihood of breakages.

[0010] Since the fie member does not need to be tightened to retain the hangers together -it only needing to form a secure loop, the tie member may comprise a reinforced paper strip, secured to itself by an adhesive portion. One example of a suitable reinforced paper material is Tyvek (RTM).

[0011] Alternatively, the tie member may comprise a cable fie. Cable ties are ubiquitous and readily available. Many different forms of cable fie are known and could be suitable, including, for example: a zip fie; a beaded fie; or a cable strap. The cable fie may be self-locking, for ease of securement to itself into the secure loop. Preferably, the cable tie is reusable, thereby avoiding used ties being disposed of after a single use.

[0012] The tie member may include a region for display of information relating to the hanger pack. The information may be presented in the form of a printed code, such as a barcode, and may include information relating to one or more of: an origin of the garments; a destination for the garments; and the contents of the pack, etc., to assist with identification and tracking of the pack through distribution channels. Currently, this information is typically provided in the form of a barcode on the shroud and / or on the carton. By providing the information on the fie member, it is directly affixed to the pack to which it relates, and can thus be more specific to that particular pack and is less prone to becoming separated from the pack. The information may be printed on to a sticker affixed to the display region. If the information is provided in the form of a sticker, the tie member may easily be re-used simply by removing the sticker and replacing with another that includes fresh information pertinent to the subsequent use.

[0013] In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a garment hanger pack, comprising: at least two garment hangers, each comprising a body portion on which a garment is hung, in use, and a hook portion connected to the body portion for engagement with a display rail, in use; and a substantially rigid plaque member that comprises at least one slot for receiving the hook portions of the at least two garment hangers. The plaque member retains the hangers together by passing hook portions of the hangers through the at least one slot.

[0014] Advantageously, the combination of the at least one slot in the plaque member and the hook portions passed therethrough retains the hangers of the pack together without relying on frictional engagement. This reduces the likelihood of breakages.

[0015] The at least one slot may comprise multiple slots, whereby one or more hook portions can be received in each slot. Each hook portion may have a corresponding individual slot in the plaque member or there may be a slot for each of a sub-set of the hangers in the pack -e.g. the plaque member including two slots, one receiving a first half of the hangers of the pack, the other receiving the second half of the hangers.

[0016] The plaque member may include a flat region for display of information relating to the hanger pack. The information may be presented in the form of a printed code, such as a barcode, and may include information relating to one or more of: an origin of the garments; a destination for the garments; and the contents of the pack, etc., to assist with identification and tracking of the pack through distribution channels. The information may be printed on to a sticker affixed to the display region.

[0017] Advantageously, the physical form of the substantially rigid plaque member is particularly conducive to the inclusion of such a flat display region. If the information is provided in the form of a sticker, the plaque member may easily be re-used simply by removing the sticker and replacing with another that includes fresh information pertinent to the subsequent use.

[0018] Each hanger may include a size indicator, such as a printed textual marker; e.g. selected from: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, etc. Thus, the size of a garment to be mounted on the hanger can be denoted.

[0019] The garment hanger pack may further comprise a garment mounted on each respective hanger. Thus, a bundle of garments may be supplied as a pack. Such a pack does not need to have a shroud passed over it because the tie member or the plaque member will retain the pack integrity.

[0020] The garment hanger pack may comprise a predetermined ratio of hangers for each of a number of different sizes of garment -a 'ratio pack'. The invention is not limited to the application to ratio packs determined by size; the pack may instead be selected to include numbers of garments according to their style or colour -e.g. two each of white, blue, red and black garments.

[0021] In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of supplying a garment hanger pack, comprising: providing at least two garment hangers, each comprising a body portion on which a garment is hung, in use, and a hook portion connected to the body portion for engagement with a display rail, in use, wherein each hanger includes an aperture through a neck region adjacent to the connection between the hook portion and the body portion; mounting garments on the respective hangers; selecting garments mounted on the hangers according to a predetermined criterion; and passing a tie member through each of the apertures of the hangers of the selected garments and securing the fie member to itself to form a secure loop, thereby retaining the hangers of the selected garments together as the garment hanger pack.

[0022] In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of supplying a garment hanger pack, comprising: providing at least two garment hangers, each comprising a body portion on which a garment is hung, in use, and a hook portion connected to the body portion for engagement with a display rail, in use; providing a substantially rigid plague member that comprises at least one slot for receiving the hook portions of the at least two garment hangers; mounting garments on the respective hangers; selecting garments mounted on the hangers according to a predetermined criterion; and passing the hook portions of the hangers of the selected garments through the at least one slot of the plague member, thereby retaining the hangers of the selected garments together as the garment hanger pack.

[0023] Advantageously, the methods of supply according to the third or fourth aspects reduce the likelihood of hanger breakages and mean that there may be no need to use a 25 shroud [0024] In the method of either the third or the fourth aspect, the predetermined criterion may comprise a ratio of sizes of the garments to be included in the hanger pack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Embodiments of the invention are further described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure la is a front elevation view of one embodiment of a garment hanger for use in a garment hanger pack according to the invention, showing body and hook portions thereof; Figure lb is a corresponding detail view of a neck portion of the hanger of Fig. la, showing an aperture therethrough; Figure 2a is a perspective view of a garment hanger pack according to an embodiment of a first aspect of the invention, comprised of hangers of the type shown in Figs. la and lb and a first exemplary type of tie member; Figure 2b is a corresponding detail view of the garment hanger pack of Fig. 2a, showing a portion of the tie member thereof; Figure 3a is a front elevation view of another embodiment of a garment hanger for use in a garment hanger pack according to the invention, showing body and hook portions 10 thereof; Figure 3b is a corresponding detail view of a neck portion of the hanger of Fig. 3a, showing an aperture therethrough; Figure 4a is a perspective view of a garment hanger pack according to another embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, comprised of hangers of the type shown in Figs. 3a and 3b and a second exemplary type of tie member; Figure 4b is a corresponding detail view of the garment hanger pack of Fig. 4a, showing a portion of a tie member thereof; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a garment hanger pack according to another embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, comprised of hangers of the type shown in Figs. 3a and 3b, but with a third exemplary type of tie member; Figure 6a is a perspective view of a garment hanger pack according to an embodiment of a second aspect of the invention, comprised of hangers and a plaque member; and Figure 6b is a corresponding detail view of the garment hanger pack of Fig. 6a, showing a portion of a plaque member thereof;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] A garment hanger 100 comprises a body portion 102 and a hook portion 104 detachably connected thereto. The skilled person will appreciate that the illustrated form of the hanger 100 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 102 to which the hook portion 104 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 100 is a topwear hanger, having a body portion 102 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.

[0027] The hook portion 104 includes a hook 105 that circumscribes a rail space 106 having a mouth 108, the mouth and rail space being sized for the hook 104 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 108 over the top of the rail in a conventional way.

[0028] The hook portion 104 has a proximal end 120 where it connects to the body portion 102, and a free, distal end 122 on the other side of the mouth 108. The proximal end 120 includes a collar 123. The hook portion 104 and the body portion 102 may be integrally connected, for example by being moulded together in one piece from a thermoplastic material. Alternatively, the connection may be a detachable connection.

[0029] At least the body portion 102 and preferably also the hook portion 104 of the hanger 100 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 100 could instead be formed of many other materials.

[0030] In the embodiment of Figures la, lb, 2a and 2b, the proximal end 120 of the hook portion 104 includes an aperture in the form of a slot 150. The slot 150 passes through the hook, from a front side to a rear side thereof. As best seen in Fig. lb, the slot 150 is approximately vertical and substantially parallel with a contour 152 on an outer side of the hook portion 104. The slot 150 is 2 mm wide and 14 mm in length from an upper end 156 to a lower end 158 adjacent to the collar 123. There is at least 3.5 mm of material between the slot 150 and the contour 152 on the outer side of the hook portion. It will be appreciated, however, that these dimensions are merely exemplary and that the skilled person would readily understand that alternative dimensions could be used instead, and dependent on the materials from which the hanger 100 is fabricated.

[0031] As seen in Fig. 2a, a garment hanger pack 200 comprises a plurality of such hangers 100 retained together by a tie member here illustrated in the form of a strip 300 formed in a loop through the slots 150 of all of the hangers 100 in the pack. The strip 300 may include an adhesive portion (not shown) by which it is secured to itself to form the closed loop.

[0032] Because the looped tie member 300 is passed through the apertures 150 of all of the individual hangers 100 in the pack 200, the hangers 100 are retained together and cannot be separated unless the loop is broken. As such, it is not necessary to tie the loop tightly. This enables a fie member with a relatively low tensile strength to be used. The strip 300 may thus be formed of paper; preferably a reinforced paper, such as Tyvek (RTM). Preferably, the strip 300 is formed of a recyclable material.

[0033] The strip 300 comprises a surface 302 on which information may be displayed.

As illustrated, particularly by reference to Fig. 2b, the information may be in the form of a barcode 304. The information may denote one or more of: the contents of the pack; the origin of the pack; the destination of the pack; and the like, as may be useful for identifying and tracking packs 200 from a point of origin (e.g. manufacture) to a destination (e.g. a retail environment), typically via a distribution network on route. The skilled person will appreciate that whereas a barcode is one convenient means for displaying information in machine-readable form, the information may also or instead be presented in other ways, including text or images that can easily be read by humans.

[0034] As illustrated, the hanger pack 200 includes twelve hangers 100. Each of the hangers is of the same general type, but each individual hanger may include a size indicator. The size indicator may take the form of the hook portion 104 being of a single colour that denotes a particular size. By way of example, pale grey may denominate XS, pale blue may denominate S, pale green may denominate M and orange may denominate L. Also or instead, the size marker may be printed, embossed or otherwise marked directly on to a surface of the hanger, or may comprise a separate, removable size indicator.

[0035] Although not shown, a garment of the appropriate size would be mounted on each of the respective hangers 100. Thus, a medium sized garment would be mounted on the body portion 102 of a hanger 100 that has been denoted as a hanger for a medium garment, and so on. A bundle of garments on respective hangers 100 can thus be formed, with the number of each size of garment being dependent on a predetermined criterion, which may typically be a required number of each size of garment. The illustrative hanger pack 200 includes three each of four different sizes. However, rather than an even spread of sizes, the quantities may be determined by reference to the number of expected sales, hence may include more mediums than XS or XXL, for example, as a so-called ratio pack.

The expected number of sales of each size may be determined by the destination retailer.

By way of example, a ratio pack may include a total of sixteen garments, comprising three XS, five S and 8 L. A predetermined ratio of hangers for each of a number of different sizes of garment may thus be selected.

[0036] Once the garments have been mounted to their respective size-denominated hangers 100 and have been selected in the predetermined ratio, the tie member 300 is passed through the slots 150 of all of the selected hangers 100 and is secured to itself to form a secure loop. This secure loop thus retains the hangers and the selected garments together as the garment hanger pack.

[0037] It is envisaged that a hanger pack may be formed and supplied without the associated garments mounted on the hangers, but it will be appreciated that mounting garments on the respective hangers will be easier prior to their being secured together as a pack.

[0038] Whereas the predetermined criterion is described above in the context of garment sizes, it may instead relate to other characteristics of the garments, such as their style or colour.

[0039] Figures 3a to 5 show a garment hanger 100' with a differently shaped aperture to that of the hanger 100. The aperture is in the form of a generally triangular hole 160 that passes through the hook, from a front side to a rear side thereof As best seen in Fig. 3b, the hole 160 includes a first edge 162 substantially parallel with a contour 152' on an outer side of the hook portion 104', a second edge substantially parallel with a contour 154' on an opposite outer side of the hook portion 104', and a third edge 166, substantially parallel with a bottom edge 168 of the hook portion, where it connects to the body portion 102'. The three edges 162-166 thus form a triangle with rounded vertices and defining a space large enough for an object of 8.3 mm diameter to pass through. There is at least 3.5 mm of material between the edges of the hole 160 and the respective contours 152', 154' and the bottom edge 168 of the hook portion 104'. It will be appreciated, however, that these dimensions are merely exemplary and that the skilled person would readily understand that alternative dimensions could be used instead, and dependent on the materials from which the hanger 100' is fabricated.

[0040] A garment hanger pack 200', as shown in Figs. 4a and 4b, comprises a plurality of such hangers 100' retained together by a tie member here illustrated in the form of a ladder-type cable tie 400 formed in a loop through the holes 160 of all of the hangers 100' in the pack. The larger size of the aperture 160 accommodates the greater thickness of the material of a cable tie 400 in comparison to the strip 300. The cable tie 400 is secured to itself in a conventional self-locking way to form the closed loop. The cable tie 400 includes a flat region 402, sometimes known as a flag on which information may be displayed. As illustrated, particularly by reference to Fig. 4b, the information may be in the form of a barcode 404. The description above with respect to the information displayed by the barcode 304 applies equally to the barcode 404 of this embodiment. The information may be printed directly on to the surface 402, or may be applied in the form of a sticker (not shown).

[0041] As illustrated, the garment hanger pack 200' includes eight hangers 100'. Each of the hangers 100' is of the same general type, but comprising two subsets of four, one subset denominated for one size, style or colour of garment, the other subset denominated for a different size, style or colour of garment, the different denominations here being denoted by the differently coloured hook portions 104'.

[0042] As with the pack 200 in which the hangers 100 are retained by the looped strip 300, because the cable tie 400 is passed through the apertures 160 of all of the individual hangers 100' in the pack 200', the hangers 100' are retained together and cannot be separated unless the loop is broken -for example by cutting or releasing the cable tie, and it is not necessary to fie the loop tightly. This enables a cable tie with a relatively low tensile strength to be used and/or for the cable fie only to be formed into a relatively loose loop.

[0043] It will be appreciated that many known cable tie types may be used instead of the specific example cable tie 400 as depicted in Figs. 4a and 4b. The skilled person would understand that any cable tie of suitable size and strength may be used. By way of example, Fig. 5 shows an alternative cable fie in the form of a beaded tie 400'. The beaded fie 400' also includes a flat region 402' on which information may be displayed. The detail view of the information on the display region depicted in Fig. 4b applies equally to this embodiment.

[0044] Other forms of cable tie would also be suitable, such as a zip tie or a cable strap.

Whichever type of cable tie is employed, it may preferably be reusable -i.e. the self-locking feature may be releasable to disconnect the secure loop. That way, the cable tie does not need to be cut to release the hangers 100, 100' at the end destination and, moreover, can be used again rather than being disposed of Where the cable tie is to be reused, the information 404 is conveniently provided thereon in the form of a sticker, so that the sticker may be removed and replaced (or be overstickered) by a new sticker with updated information pertinent to a new hanger pack.

[0045] It will further be understood that the aperture through the hanger may be provided in any suitable form as appropriate to the materials and of sufficient size for ease of insertion of the associated tie member therethrough.

[0046] An alternative way to retain individual hangers 1000 in a pack 500 by use of a substantially rigid plaque member 600 is shown by reference to Figs. 6a and 6b. In this arrangement, the garment hangers 1000 may take any suitable form and do not require a through aperture because they are not retained together by a fie member passed therethrough. Instead, the hook portions 1004 of the hangers 1000 are passed through one or more slots 610a, 610b through the plaque member 600. As illustrated, the garment hanger pack 500 comprises twelve hangers 1000. Each of the hangers is of the same general type, but each individual hanger may include a size indicator. The size indicator may take the form of the hook portion 1004 being of a single colour that denotes a particular size, as with the hangers 100 described with reference to the hanger pack 200 [0047] Although not shown, a garment of the appropriate size would be mounted on each of the respective hangers 1000. A predetermined ratio of hangers for each of a number of different sizes of garment may be selected, as previously described.

[0048] In the embodiment of Figs. 6a and 6b, the plaque member 600 comprises a substantially rectangular flat member which includes a flat region 602 for display of information relating to the hanger pack, and a pair of slots 610a, 610b to receive respective subsets 1102, 1104 of the hangers 1000. It will be understood, however, that just a single slot may be provided to retain all of the hangers 1000 in the pack 500 together, or more slots may be provided, up to providing an individual slot for each of the hangers 1000 in the pack 500. The subsets 1102, 1104 may be selected by size: e.g. the XS and S forming one subset 1104 and the M and L forming another subset 1102, or each size forming its own subset and having its own corresponding slot.

[0049] The information provided on the flat region 602 may be in the form of a barcode 604. The description above with respect to the information displayed by the barcodes 304 and 404 applies equally to the barcode 604 of this embodiment. Likewise, the information may be printed directly on to the surface 602, or may be applied in the form of a sticker (not shown).

[0050] The plaque member 600 may be fabricated from a recyclable thermoplastic material, for example by moulding, although it will be appreciated that other materials and manufacturing techniques could be used instead.

[0051] Once the garments have been mounted to their respective hangers 1000 and have been selected in the predetermined ratio (be that by size or other predetermined criterion), the plaque member 600 is passed over the hook portions 1004 of all of the selected hangers 1000, by aligning the slots 610a, 610b with the free, distal ends 1122 of the hook portions 1004 of each of the hangers 1000 in the respective subsets 1102, 1104, and then passing the plaque member 600 around the hook portions 1004, flipping through approximately 180 degrees as it goes, to a position as illustrated where the plaque member 600 lies towards the proximal end 1120 of the hook portion, adjacent to the body portion 1002. The hangers may instead be mounted to the plaque member by holding the plaque member in position and by inserting the respective hook portions 1004 through the or each slot 610a, 610b. This may be done on a hanger-by-hanger basis or as a subset or even all together. The plaque member 600 thus retains the hangers 1000 and the selected garments together as the garment hanger pack 500.

[0052] As with the hanger packs 200 and 200', it is envisaged that a hanger pack 500 may be formed and supplied without the associated garments mounted on the hangers, but it will be appreciated that mounting garments on the respective hangers will be easier prior to their being secured together as a pack.

[0053] Whether the hangers in a pack are retained together by a fie member or by a plaque member, the plastic shroud of the prior art can be omitted because it is not needed to maintain pack integrity. This is particularly the case if the hanger packs are intended to be shipped direct to a retail store or via a distribution supply network that does not handle foodstuffs. However, in instances where the garments may be supplied via distribution supply networks where foodstuffs are also handled, a shroud may still be provided to avoid potential cross-contamination.

[0054] In any event, such garment hanger packs may be transported together to the ultimate retail store destination, optionally packed within cartons. At the retail store, the garments can be removed from the cartons and displayed on the shop floor by placing the hangers on hanging rails or other shopfitting displays. In the case of packs 200, 200' that are retained together by a tie member 300, 400, 400', the loop formed by the tie member will be untied -for example by cutting or by releasing a self-locking mechanism thereof -either immediately prior to placing the hangers 100, 100' on the display or once the whole pack has been placed on the display as a unit. In the case of packs that are retained together by a plaque member 600, the plaque member 600 will be removed in a reversal of the insertion process, by sliding it back around the hook portions 1004 and off the free, distal ends 1122 of the hangers 1000 immediately prior to placing the hangers on the display. As such, all of the garments in the pack can easily be placed on display in the desired quantifies and order. The plaque member 600 may be reused on a new hanger pack, in which case the information 604 is conveniently provided thereon in the form of a sticker, so that the sticker may be removed and replaced (or be overstickered) by a new sticker with updated information pertinent to a new hanger pack..

[0055] 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.

[0056] 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.

[0057] 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 (15)

1. CLAIMS1. A garment hanger pack, comprising: at least two garment hangers, each comprising a body portion on which a garment is hung, in use, and a hook portion connected to the body portion for engagement with a display rail, in use, wherein each hanger includes an aperture through a neck region adjacent to the connection between the hook portion and the body portion; and a tie member; wherein the tie member is passed through each of the apertures and secured to itself to form a secure loop to retain the hangers together.
2. 2. The garment hanger pack of claim 1, wherein the tie member comprises a reinforced paper strip, secured to itself by an adhesive portion.
3. 3. The garment hanger pack of claim 1, wherein the tie member comprises a cable tie.
4. 4. The garment hanger pack of claim 3, wherein the cable tie is self-locking.
5. 5. The garment hanger pack of claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the cable tie is reusable.
6. 6. The garment hanger pack of any preceding claim, wherein the tie member includes a region for display of information relating to the hanger pack.
7. 7. A garment hanger pack, comprising: at least two garment hangers, each comprising a body portion on which a garment is hung, in use, and a hook portion connected to the body portion for engagement with a display rail, in use; and a substantially rigid plaque member that comprises at least one slot for receiving the hook portions of the at least two garment hangers; wherein the plaque member retains the hangers together by passing hook portions of the hangers through the at least one slot.
8. 8. The garment hanger pack of claim 7, wherein the at least one slot comprises multiple slots, whereby one or more hook portions can be received in each slot.
9. 9. The garment hanger pack of claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the plaque member includes a flat region for display of information relating to the hanger pack.
10. 10. The garment hanger pack of any preceding claim, wherein each hanger includes a size indicator.
11. 11. The garment hanger pack of any preceding claim, further comprising a garment mounted on each respective hanger.
12. 12. The garment hanger pack of claim 10 or claim 11, comprising a predetermined ratio of hangers for each of a number of different sizes of garment.
13. 13. A method of supplying a garment hanger pack, comprising: providing at least two garment hangers, each comprising a body portion on which a garment is hung, in use, and a hook portion connected to the body portion for engagement with a display rail, in use, wherein each hanger includes an aperture through a neck region adjacent to the connection between the hook portion and the body portion; mounting garments on the respective hangers; selecting garments mounted on the hangers according to a predetermined criterion; and passing a tie member through each of the apertures of the hangers of the selected garments and securing the tie member to itself to form a secure loop, thereby retaining the hangers of the selected garments together as the garment hanger pack.
14. 14. A method of supplying a garment hanger pack, comprising: providing at least two garment hangers, each comprising a body portion on which a garment is hung, in use, and a hook portion connected to the body portion for engagement with a display rail, in use; providing a substantially rigid plague member that comprises at least one slot for receiving the hook portions of the at least two garment hangers; mounting garments on the respective hangers; selecting garments mounted on the hangers according to a predetermined criterion; and passing the hook portions of the hangers of the selected garments through the at least one slot of the plague member, thereby retaining the hangers of the selected garments together as the garment hanger pack.
15. 15. The method of claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the predetermined criterion comprises a ratio of sizes of the garments to be included in the hanger pack. 25