IE20210049U1 - Clothing Storage and Display System - Google Patents

Abstract

The clothing storage and display system (1) comprises a hanger (2) and an associated rail (3) with a hanger (2) is engagable in use. A connector element such as a peg (5) on the hanger (2) is demountably engagable with one of a number of complementary spaced-apart hanger mounting slots (6) on the rail (3). Thus, conveniently, a number of hangers (2) can be mounted spaced-apart on the rail (3). Clothing items on the hangers (2) are held spaced-apart on the rail (3) and in a neat and tidy array. Each clothing item is readily easily viewed and spacing between the clothing items allows the clothing items to breathe.

Description

“Clothing Storage and Display System” Introduction This invention relates to a clothing storage and display system.

Background of the Invention Clothing storage and display systems having a number of hangers and an associated rail are known. Typically, the rail is an elongate tubular element and a hook at a top of each hanger sits on the rail. A drawback of this known system is that the hangers can overlap and become entangled, particularly when not carrying clothing. Also, as the hangers are free to slide along the rail, garments can become bunched together and are not easily viewed which is a particular disadvantage in a retail outlet, making it more difficult for customers to view the clothing merchandise hanging on the rail.

The present invention is directed towards overcoming this problem.

Summagy of the Invention According to the invention, there is provided a clothing storage and display system comprising a rail, the rail having a number of spaced-apart hanger mounts, at least one hanger having a connector element for releasable engagement with a hanger mount on the rail to mount the hanger on the rail. Thus conveniently clothing items are supported and displayed spaced-apart on the rail.

In one embodiment of the invention each hanger mount and the associated connector element are formed by complementary interengagable formations on the rail and on the hangen In one embodiment of the invention, each hanger mount is a hanger mounting slot and the connector element is a peg on the hanger which is releasably engagable with the hanger mounting slot.

In another embodiment, the peg is centrally located at a top of the hanger. 1O In another embodiment, at least a portion of engaging faces of the peg and the hanger mounting slot are flat to prevent rotation of the peg in the slot.

In another embodiment, the peg and the slot are of rectangular section.

In another embodiment, the hanger mounting slot and the peg are tapered.

In another embodiment, a handgrip is provided at a top of the hanger.

In another embodiment each hanger mounting slot comprises a hole or socket in the rail.

In another embodiment each hanger mounting slot comprises an outwardly extending tubular element on the rail.

In another embodiment the rail comprises an elongate block.

In another embodiment, the hanger has a clothes support comprising a triangularframe having a bottom crossbar from which two shoulder bars extend inwardly and upwardly from the bottom crossbar to meet at an apex.

In another embodiment, a clothing clip is mounted intermediate the ends of each shoulder bar.

In another embodiment, the clothing clip is rotatably mounted on the shoulder bar for movement between a stored position in alignment with the shoulder bar and a deployed position projecting outwardly from the shoulder bar.

In another embodiment, a through hole extends through the clothing clip for engagement by a clothes peg.

Brief Descfltion of the Drawing The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of some 1O embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a partially sectioned elevational view of a clothing storage and display system according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of a rail portion of the system; Fig. 3 is a detail elevational view of a clothing support clip of the system; Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a hanger forming portion of another clothing storage and display system according to a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the hanger shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the hanger shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is another side elevational view of the hanger shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is an elevational view of a rail which, together with the hanger of Fig. 4, forms the clothing storage and display system of the second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 9 is a plan view of the rail shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is an end elevational view of the rail shown in Fig. 8; and Fig. 11 is a plan view of a rail forming portion of another clothing storage and display system of the invention.

Qetailed Descrip_tion of the Preferred Embodiments Referring to the drawings, and initially to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3 thereof, there is illustrated a clothing storage and display system according to invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The clothing storage and display system 1 comprises a hanger 2 and an associated rail 3 with which the hanger 2 is engagable in use. A peg 5 on the hanger 2 is demountably engagable with one of a number of complementary spaced- apart hanger mounting slots 6 on the rail 3. Thus, conveniently, a number of hangers 2 can be mounted spaced-apart on the rail 3. Clothing items on the hangers 2 are held spaced-apart on the rail 3 and in a neat and tidy array. Each clothing item is readily easily viewed and spacing between the clothing items allows the clothing items to breathe.

The hanger 2 has a clothing support comprising a triangular frame 8 having a bottom crossbar 9 from which two shoulder bars 10, 11 extend inwardly and upwardly to meet at an apex 12.

An inclined support arm 14 extends upwardly from the apex 12 and carries the outwardly extending peg 5 at its upper end 15. The peg 5 is parallel to the bottom crossbar 9 and is centrally positioned above the apex 12 by the offset arm 14.

A handgrip 16 is provided at a top of the hanger 2, extending upwardly from the upper end 15 of the support arm 14.

A clothing clip 18 is rotatably mounted intermediate the ends of each shoulder bar 10, 11 by pivot pins 19 extending through each clip 18 at a central location on the clip 18 and through the associated shoulder bar 10, 11. It will be noted that each clothing clip 18 is rotatably mounted on the associated shoulder bar 10, 11 for movement between a stored position in alignment with the shoulder bar 11 (as shown on the left hand side of Fig. 1) and an upright deployed position projecting outwardly from the shoulder bar (as shown on the right hand side of Fig. 1). In the deployed in-use position the clothing clip 18 has a vertical orientation. A through hole 20 extends through the clothing clip 18 at one end of the clothing clip 18 for engagement by an associated clothes peg 21.

Fig. 2 shows the rail 3 which comprises a block of rectangular section having a plurality of spaced-apart rectangular section slots 6 for reception of pegs 5 on hangers 2 which are to be mounted on the rail 3. Each peg 5 is a snug fit in each slot 6 so that when inserted. it will not fall out of the slot 6. The peg 5 inserts horizontally into the selected associated slot 6. As the peg 5 and the slot 6 are of rectangular section this prevents rotation of the peg 5 in the slot 6. If desired, the peg 5 and the associated slots 6 could be tapered to facilitate engagement/disengagement and a firm grip between each hanger 2 and the slots 6 on the rail 3. In alternative arrangements the slots 6 and pegs might have a circular section or have a frustoconical configuration.

The handgrip 16 at a top of each hanger 2 facilitates insertion and removal of the hanger without touching clothing carried on the frame 8 of the hanger 2.

In use, a person mounts a clothing item on the hanger 2 in the usual way. The clothing clips 18 can be used for straps or pants if required. The hanger 2 is then inserted into one of the associated mounting slots 6 on the rail 3. Vlfith a number of hangers mounted on the rail 3, a neat arrangement of clothing is provided on the rail 3.

Referring now to Fig. 4 to Fig. 10, there is shown another clothing storage and display system comprising a hanger 2, as shown in Fig. 4-Fig. 7, and an associated rail 3, as shown in Fig. 8-Fig. 10. Parts similar to those described previously are assigned the same reference numerals.

Referring now to Fig. 11, there is shown a rail 30 forming portion of a clothing storage and display system according to another embodiment of the invention. Parts similar to those described previously are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case each hanger mounting slot 6 is formed by a tubular element 32 projecting outwardly at a side of the rail 3 which comprises an elongate block. A plurality of spaced-apart tubular elements 32 are provided on one or both sides of the rail 3. in use, a peg 5 of a hangar 2 is inserted into a tubular element 32 to mount the hangar 2 on the rail 3.

The terms “comprise” and “include", and any variations thereof required for grammatical reasons, are to be considered as interchangeable and accorded the widest possible interpretation.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims (1)

1. O 25 (Ll-PM A clothing storage and display system comprising a rail, the rail having a number of spaced-apart hanger mounts, at least one hanger having a connector element for releasable engagement with a hanger mount on the rail to mount the hanger on the rail. The clothing storage and display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each hanger mount and the associated connector element are formed by complementary interengagable formations on the rail and on the hanger. The clothing storage and display system as claimed in claim 2, wherein each hanger mount is a hanger mounting slot and the connector element is a peg on the hanger which is releasably engagable with the hanger mounting slot. The clothing storage and display system as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least a portion of engaging faces of the peg and the hanger mounting slot are flat to prevent rotation of the peg in the slot. The clothing storage and display system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hanger has a clothes support comprising a triangular frame having a bottom crossbar from which two shoulder bars extend inwardly and upwardly from the bottom crossbar to meet at an apex, a clothing clip is mounted intermediate the ends of each shoulder bar, and preferably the clothing clip is rotatably mounted on the shoulder bar for movement between a stored position in alignment with the shoulder bar and a deployed position projecting outwardly from the shoulder bar.