IE20080717U1 - A hanger - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a hanger for use in a dry cleaners Comprising a substantially triangular body mounting a hook at its apex, wherein the body comprises a crosspiece and two side anns connected to the ends of the crosspiece and joined at their free ends to form the apex of the body. Such hangers are widely known.

The majority of people are familiar with receiving clothes back from the dry cleaners, wherein those clothes are presented on hangers. The hangers used in these situations are predominantly wire hangers.

Wire hangers have a number of problems associated therewith. Firstly. they provide a smooth surface. which at times can make it difficult to secure certain garments to the hanger. For example, garments having ribbon-like hanging hooks often cannot be secured to a wire hanger as the ribbon-like hanging hook will simply slide off the hanger.

Additionally, the wire of the wire hanger is very narrow and can leave a mark in clothes that are hung therefrom, particularly for heavy garments.

It is common for dry cleaners to overcome these problems by mounting cardboard fittings over the crosspiece or side arms of the hanger in order to accommodate garments such as trousers, which can then be hung over the crosspiece securely and without risking marking or creasing the garment. Alternatively, jackets will rest securely on the cardboard covering the side arms. Often the cardboard on the side bars will include slits to accommodate ribbon-like hanging hooks.

The use of such cardboard pieces is problematic as they require assembly time. which is inconvenient for employees and takes time that may otherwise be spent more productively elsewhere. Additionally, the cost of the hanger and cardboard combination can be uneconomical.

It is an object therefore of the present invention to provide a hanger that overcomes at least some of the above-mentioned problems f STATEMENTS or INVENTION According to the invention there is provided a hanger for use in a dry cleaners. the hanger comprising a substantially triangular body mounting a hook at its apex, wherein the body comprises a crosspiece and two side arms connected to the ends of the crosspiece and joined at their free ends to form the apex of the body characterised in that each side arm further comprises a retaining bar which depends from the side arm and is cranked adjacent the side arm to extend substantially parallel to the side arm in the direction of the apex of the triangular body.

In this way, garments having ribbon-like hanging hooks may be secured to the retaining bars attached to the side arms of the hanger, eliminating the need for a slitted cardboard cover for the side bars.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a hanger further comprising a bridging bar extending between the side arms adjacent the hook. In this way, a tie may be hung safely and securely from the bridging bar, thereby eliminating the requirement for a tie-retaining cardboard fitting.

In another embodiment of the Invention there is provided a hanger further comprising a securing bar depending from the crosspiece and extending parallel thereto. In this way. trousers may be secured to the hanger by resting them across the crosspiece and guiding them through the gap between the crosspiece and the securing bar.

In a further embodiment of the invention there is provided a hanger in which the securing bar is connected to the crosspiece at one end. In this way. a garment may be slipped over the free end of the securing bar in a simple and convenient manner.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention there is provided a hanger further comprising a pair of securing bars. This is a particularly simple and convenient manner of providing a reliable manner of securing a gannent that rests over the crosspiece of the hanger In an embodiment of the invention there is provided a hanger in which the body is manufactured from polypropylene. Polypropylene is a convenient, robust and economical material for use in hangers of this type. Additionally. it may be re-cycled easily.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a hanger in which the hook is manufactured from polypropylene. In this way. the hanger may be moulded as a corn plete unit.

In another embodiment of the invention there is provided a hanger in which the hook is manufactured from metal. In this way, the hanger may be supplied with a polypropylene body and metal hook, the metal hook allowing use within the garment hanging systems of certain dry cleaners.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention there is provided a hanger further comprising a moulded rib system. In this way, a hanger having a wide garment-resting surface may be provided, that is also lightweight and strong in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENUON The invention will now be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a front view of a hanger according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of hanger according to the invention; and Fig. 3 is a front view of a further embodiment of hanger according to the invention; and Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the hanger across line A-A in Fig, 1.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to Fig. 1 thereof, there is shown a hanger for use in a dry cleaners indicated generally by the reference numeral 100, comprising a substantially triangular body 102 mounting a hook 104 at its apex 110, wherein the body comprises a crosspiece 106 and two side arms 108, equal in length, connected to the ends of the crosspiece 106 and joined at their free ends to form the apex 110 of the body 102. The hook 104 is formed integrally with the body 102. Each side arm 108 further comprises a retaining bar 112 which depends from the side arm 108 and is cranked adjacent the side arm 108 to extend substantially parallel to the side arm 108 in the direction of the apex 110 of the triangular body 102. The retaining bar 112 terminates in rounded section 114, which acts as a stop for ribbon-like hanging hooks that may be hooked over the retaining bars 112. The hanger further comprises a pair of securing bars 116 which depend from the crosspiece 106 adjacent the ends of the crosspiece and are cranked such that they extend parallel to the crosspiece 106 in the direction of the centre of the crosspiece 106. The parallel sections of the securing bars 116 are spaced apart from the crosspiece 106 by a distance approximately equal to the height of the crosspiece 106 itself.

Referring now to Fig. 2. in which like parts have been given the same reference numerals as before, there is shown an alternative embodiment of hanger, generally indicated by the reference numeral 200 wherein the hanger 200 comprises a bridging bar 202 that extends between the side arms, under the hook 104. The bridging bar 202 has a pair of ends which are cranked upwardly to connect to the side arms 108, at a location approximately one quarter of the way along the side arms 108 from the apex 1 10..

Referring now to Fig. 3, in which like parts have been given the same reference numerals as before, there is shown an alternative embodiment of hanger, generally indicated by the reference numeral 300 wherein the hanger 300 comprises a metal hook 302 which is not formed integrally with the body 102.

Referring now to Fig. 4, there is shown a cross-section of the side arm 108 of the hanger 100 along the line A-A in Fig.1. The side arm comprises a substantially C—shaped channel, indicated generally by the reference numeral 400, having an upper rib 402, a back 404 and a lower rib 406, the upper rib 402 and lower rib 406 being parallel to each other. and spaced apart by the back 404, which is connected between the upper rib 402 and lower rib 406 and is orthogonal to both. In use, the upper rib corresponds to the top surface of the side arm 108 and the top surface of the crosspiece 106. Both side arms 108, the crosspiece 106 and the hook 104. when formed integrally with the body comprise the same cross section arrangement.

The hanger 100, 200, 300 is manufactured from polypropylene using an injection moulding process. In the case of the hanger 300 having a metal hook 302, the body is manufactured using the injection moulding process and the metal hook is inserted afterwards. The outer suriaoes of the main hanger body 102, such as the upper surfaces of the side arms 108 and the upper surface of the crosspiece 106 are approximately 5 mm thick and have rounded corners. In this way, garments resting thereon will not be resting on any sharp edges which might mark, crease or damage the garment.

In use, shirts and jackets may be hung over the side arms 108 of the hanger 100, 200, 300. Skirt or others garments having ribbon-like hanging books may be suspended from the retaining bars 112. Additionally, dresses may be suspended from the side bars 108 and secured in place by hooking their ribbon-like hanging hooks to the retaining bars 112. Ties may be hung over the bridging bar 202. Trousers may be hung over the crosspiece 106 and secured in place by passing them through the gap between the crosspiece 106 and securing bars 116.

In the specification the terms ‘comprise’, ‘comprises’. ‘comprised’ and comprising‘ or any variation thereof and the terms ‘include‘, ‘includes’. ‘included’ or ‘including’ or any variation thereof are considered to be totally interchangeable and they should all be afforded the widest possible interpretation.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment herein described, but may be varied in both construction and detail within the terms of the claims.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS:

1. A hanger for use in a dry cleaners, the hanger comprising a substantially triangular body mounting a hook at its apex, wherein the body comprises a crosspiece and two side arms connected to the ends of the crosspiece and joined at their free ends to form the apex of the body characterised in that each side arm further comprises a retaining bar which depends from the side arm and is cranked adjacent the side arm to extend substantially parallel to the side arm in the direction of the apex of the triangular body.

2. A hanger as claimed in Claiml, the hanger further comprising a securing bar depending from the crosspiece and extending parallel thereto; optionally wherein the securing bar is connected to the crosspiece at one end; optionally wherein a pair of securing bars is provided; and optionally wherein a bridging bar extends between the side arms adjacent the hook.

3. A hanger as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the body is manufactured from polypropylene; and optionally wherein the hook in manufactured from polypropylene.

4. A hanger as claimed in any one of the proceeding claims, the hanger further comprising a moulded rib system.

5. A hanger for use in dry cleaners substantially in accordance with any of the embodiments as herein described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.