WO1999007263A2

WO1999007263A2 - A garment hanger system

Info

Publication number: WO1999007263A2
Application number: PCT/IB1998/001458
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mark V. Gandur
Original assignee: Rosebay Terrace Pty. Ltd.
Priority date: 1997-08-04
Filing date: 1998-08-04
Publication date: 1999-02-18
Also published as: WO1999007263A3; AU8994898A

Abstract

A hanger assembly (10) having an elongated tranfer bar (20), a retaining member (30), and a latch member (40) for removably connecting the retainer member (30) to the transfer bar (20). The transfer bar (20) has a top surface (22) adapted to receive and support the hanger hooks (H) and a bottom surface (24) adapted to be complementarily received over a hangar bar used to receive hangers from garments sold at a retail store or business using hangers. The retainer member (30) has an arcuate lower side (34) that is adapted to be complementarily disposed over both a portion of the top surface (22) of the transfer bar (20) and the hook hanger (H) disposed thereon. The latch member (40) is movable between an engaged position, in which a portion of the latch member (40) detachably engages a portion of the transfer bar (20), and a disengaged position. When in the disengaged position, the hanger assembly (10) allows the transfer bar (20) and retainer bar (30) to be completely separated. The present invention also encompasses a process for transferring hangers from a hanger bar in the store to the transfer bar. The transfer bar is placed under the hanger bar and rotated. The transfer bar starts adjacent the base of the hanger hooks, rotates along the underside of the hanger hooks, and completes the rotation under the hooks where the hooks engage the hanger bar. The retainer bar is then detachably secured to the transfer bar, which is then easily transferable to a box or similar shipping container for transporting the hangers to a hanger recycling or recovery facility.

Description

A Garment Hanger System BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for managing hangers for garments and, more particularly, for a device and method that is used to manage hangers removed from a garment sold at a store so that the hangers can be transported securely, economically and ensure they can be reused.

Background Art

A common practice in the clothing retail industry is for vendors to ship garments to merchants that are floor ready, e.g., with a hanger inserted in the garment. This procedure enables store employees to place the garments quickly on display, which can result in a higher volume of sales, lower labor costs, and greater profits for the merchant.

One concern is that the floor-ready hangers are relatively expensive. Thus, many garment retailers reuse hangers, which is environmentally friendly, increases profits, and reduces store trashing costs.

Some devices have been developed to assist in reusing hangers. For example, U.S. Patent Nos. 3,868,906 and 4,753,355 disclose devices that have a hanger support member and a retaining portion that is slidably movable on guides or posts relative to the hanger support member. The design of the prior art devices prevents the transfer of hangers from a conventional hanger bar in a store to a prior art device without physically separating the hangers from a hanger bar and placing them on the prior art device.

Thus, a need exists in the art for a device that facilitates collecting hangers with maximum efficiency. Another need in the art is for a method to allow the transfer of hangers from a hangers to a recycling or recovery facility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the drawbacks in the prior art by providing a hanger assembly having an elongated transfer bar, a retaining member, and a means for removably connecting the retainer member to the transfer bar. The hanger assembly is designed to be used with a hanger bar at a retail clothing shop that retains hangers removed from garments sold to customers or other business that stores hangers.

The transfer bar has a top surface adapted to receive and support the hanger hooks and a bottom surface adapted to be complementarily received over the hanger bar. The transfer bar has two ends, in which each end is adapted to engage a support structure, such as the wall of a box used to collect and ship the hanger assemblies and hangers to a recycling facility.

The retainer member has an arcuate lower side that is adapted to be complementarily disposed over both a portion of the top surface of the transfer bar and the hook hanger disposed thereon. Thus, the hook of the hanger is disposed intermediate the retainer member and the transfer bar.

The connecting means detachably connects the retainer member to the transfer bar. The connecting means is movable between an engaged position, in which a portion of the connecting means detachably engages a portion of the transfer bar, and a disengaged position. In the disengaged position, the connecting means is spaced apart from the transfer bar. Unlike some prior art devices, the hanger assembly of the present invention allows the transfer bar and retainer bar to be completely separated instead of having a guide or other component limit the separation distance therebetween. The present invention also encompasses a process of transferring hangers from the hanger bar in the retail store to the transfer bar. The transfer bar is placed under and against the hanger bar so that is it not initially in contact with any hangers. The transfer bar is then rotated around the surface of the hanger bar and under the hanger hooks until the transfer bar is ultimately located above the hanger bar with the hanger hooks then resting on the surface of the transfer bar. The retainer member is then detachably secured to the transfer bar with the hanger hooks secured therebetween. The transfer bar is then easily transferable to a box or similar shipping container for transporting the hangers to a hanger recycling or recovery facility.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the garment transfer system of one embodiment of the present invention, in which the retainer member is separated from the transfer bar.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective of Fig. 1 showing the latch member in the engaged position so that the retainer bar is detachably secured to the transfer bar.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of Fig. 2 showing the components of one embodiment of the connecting means.

Fig. 4 is an end view of Fig. 2, in which the transfer bar is detachably engaged in an opening of a support structure.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 4 taken along line 5-5.

Fig. 6 is a sectional end view of the transfer bar of Fig. 1 and a hanger bar, in which the transfer bar is shown rotated 180^° in phantom lines to be disposed under the hook of a hanger. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective of a second embodiment of the latch member in the engaged position so that the retainer bar is detachably secured to the transfer bar.

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of Fig. 7 showing the components of the preferred connecting means.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 9 taken along line 10-10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended as illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. As used in the specification and in the claims, "a" can mean one or more, depending upon the context in which it is used. The preferred embodiment is now described, in which like numbers indicate like parts throughout the figures.

As shown in Figs. 1-10, the present invention encompasses a hanger assembly 10, which comprises an elongated transfer bar 20, a retainer member 30, and a means for removably connecting the retainer member 30 to the transfer bar 20, which is preferably a latch member 40. The transfer bar 20 is designed to be used in conjunction with a hanger bar B, as shown in Fig. 6, which is used at a retail clothing store. The hanger bar B is used for collecting and storing hangers H removed from garments (not shown) purchased at these stores. The hanger bar B is usually substantially arcuate in cross section to complementarily receive the hook of hanger H.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the transfer bar 20 also has a top surface 22 adapted to receive and support the hooks or other portion of a plurality of hangers H on it. Preferably, the transfer bar 20 has a bottom surface 24 adapted to be complementarily received against the arcuate hanger bar B, as shown in Fig. 6. The transfer bar 20 also has two ends 26, in which each end 26 is adapted to engage a support structure, such as the side S, or wall, of an insert I, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The transfer bar 20 preferably also defines an opening 28 therethrough adjacent each of its ends 26 to which the latch member 40 engages. As shown best in Figs. 4 and 7, each of the ends 26 form an arch therein which is of a size to be disposed flush against the hanger bar B.

Now referring to Figs. 1-3, the retainer member 30 has a longitudinal axis L (shown in Fig. 3), opposed ends 36, an upper side 32, and an opposed lower side 34 that is adapted to be disposed over a portion of the top surface 22 of the transfer bar 20. As best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the retainer member 30 is also substantially arcuate in cross section so that the lower side 34 thereof is complementarily received over both the top surface 22 of the transfer bar 20 and the arcuate portion of the hanger H disposed thereon. That is, the hook of the hanger H is disposed intermediate the retainer member 30 and the transfer bar 20, which is best shown in Fig. 2. When the retainer member 30 is engaged with the transfer bar 20, the space therebetween is preferably sufficient for each hook of a plurality of hangers H to be located therebetween, but narrow enough that an enlarged end of the hanger hook (as seen in Fig. 4) will not fit between transfer bar 20 and retainer member 30, thereby securing the hangers H on the hanger assembly 10.

The retainer member 30 may define at least one slot 38 therethrough and, as shown in Fig. 1, the retainer member 30 may define two slots 38. Each slot 38 is disposed adjacent a respective end 36 of the retainer member 30. The latch member 40 is at least partially disposed in the slot 38 of the retainer member 30.

Preferably, the connecting means comprises a latch member 40. As best shown in Fig. 3, a first embodiment of the latch member 40 comprises a tongue 42, a handle means 50, and a means for attaching the handle means 50 to a portion of the tongue 42. The tongue 42, or locking lug, is disposed adjacent the lower side 34 of the retainer member 30 and has a tip 46 adapted to engage a portion of the end 26 of the transfer bar 20. The tip 46 of the tongue 42 is wedge shaped, or formed as a beveled nose, to guide the tongue 42 entering into the opening 28 through the transfer bar 20.

The handle means 50, or slide button, is disposed adjacent the upper side 32 of the retainer member 30. The width of the handle means 50 is wider than the slot 38. The attaching means couples the handle means 50 to a portion of the tongue 42, specifically a stepped rib 44, through the slot 38 in the retainer member 30. The attaching means can comprise attachment screws 58, as shown in Fig. 3. The connected tongue 42 and handle means 50 are slidable along at least a portion of the slot 38. To reduce the friction between the handle means 50 and the upper side 32 of the retainer member 30, a slide membrane 52 is disposed therebetween.

The preferred embodiment of the latch member 40 is shown in Figs. 7-10. The latch member 40 also comprises a tongue 62, a handle means 64, and a means for attaching the handle means 64 to a portion of the tongue 62. The tongue 62 is disposed adjacent the lower side 34 of the retainer member 30 and has a tip 66 adapted to engage a portion of the end 26 of the transfer bar 20. The tip 66 of the tongue 62 is also preferably wedge shaped to guide the tongue 62 entering into the opening 28 through the transfer bar 20.

The attaching means couples the handle means 64 to a portion of the tongue 62, preferably by integrally forming the components. The connected tongue 62 and handle means 64 are slidable along at least a portion of the retainer member 30. Referring back to Fig. 1, one skilled in the art will appreciate that a single connecting means, or latch member 40, could be used instead of two as shown.

The connecting means is slidably movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In the engaged position, which is best shown in Figs. 2, 5, and 7, a portion of the latch member 40 detachably engages a portion of the transfer bar 20. In the disengaged position, which is best shown in Fig. 1 , the latch member 40 is spaced apart from the transfer bar 20 so that the retainer member 30 can be separated from the top surface 22 of the transfer bar 20 to allow the hooks of the hangers H to be easily disposed on the top surface 22 thereof. That is, unlike some prior art devices (not shown), the hanger assembly 10 of the present invention allows the transfer bar 20 and retainer bar to be completely separated instead of having a guide or other component limit the separation distance therebetween.

The upper side 32 of the retainer member 30 also forms two longitudinally-extending protrusions 39, or ribs, in which the slot 38 of the retainer member 30 is disposed therebetween. The protrusions 39 prevent the first embodiment of the latch member 40 (shown in Figs. 1-3), which is slidably movable along the slot 38, from twisting relative to the longitudinal axis L of the retainer member 30. In the preferred, second embodiment of the latch member 40 (shown in Figs. 7-10), the protrusions are each adapted to receive a portion of the edges 68 of the latch member 40 therein to guide and position the latch member 40. The protrusions 39 can also be used to stiffen the retainer member 30.

As discussed above, a portion of the transfer bar 20 adjacent one of its ends 26 defines an opening 28, or slot, therethrough sized to complementarily receive a portion of the tongue 42 (or 62) therein. For the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1, there are two openings 28, one opening 28 to engage each tongue 42 (or 62) to each end of the retainer member 30 so that each of the two latch members 40 detachably connects to a portion of the transfer bar 20.

When the customer purchases a garment, the associate performing the sales transaction first removes the hanger H and then bags the customer's garment without the hanger. Usually stores do not to give hangers away unless the customer specifically requests them because of their cost and reusable design. The store clerk places the hanger H removed from the garment on the hanger bar B with all hooks facing the same direction.

The next step in the process involves a stock associate removing the used hangers H from the full hanger bars B using a process called the "transfer bar method." When the hanger bar B is ready, the stock associate slips the transfer bar 20 under the hanger bar B. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, the arches in the ends 26 assist in positioning the transfer bar 20 relative to the hanger bar B. Referring now to Fig. 6, the associate rotates both the hanger bar B and transfer bar 20 so that the transfer bar 20 starts adjacent the base or lower end of the hanger hooks, rotates along the underside of the hooks, and completes the rotation under the hooks where the hooks rest on the hanger bar B, as indicated by directional arrow A in Fig. 6. That is, the hanger bar B and the transfer bar 20 are turned in the same direction until the transfer bar 20 is on top after being rotated under the hanger hooks. The final location of the transfer bar is shown in phantom lines in Fig. 6 as 20'. The associate then detachably secures the retainer member 30 to the transfer bar 20 as shown in Fig. 1, forming the hanger assembly 10, so that he can now lift the transfer bar 20 with all the hangers H securely maintained on the hanger assembly 10.

As one skilled in the art will appreciate, the transfer bar 20 can alternatively be rotated the opposite direction. Likewise, it is contemplated to rotate only the transfer bar 20 instead of both the hanger bar B and the transfer bar 20.

As one skilled in the art will also appreciate, prior art devices would not allow this operation. Prior art devices use a hanger support member and a retaining portion that is slidably movable relative to the hanger support member on guides or posts. Since the components cannot be separated, the transfer of hangers from a hanger bar or its equivalent in a store to a prior art device is not possible without physically separating the hangers from a hanger bar and placing them on the prior art device. That is, the rotational transfer of hangers from the hanger bar is not possible with prior art devices.

Before lifting the hanger assembly 10, with hangers H secured therein, from the hanger bar B, the stock associate has assembled a reusable return carton (not shown). Two inserts I, portions of which are shown in Figs. 4 and 5, are placed in the bottom half of the carton. The inserts I have a plurality of openings O through them in their sides S, in which two openings O are in registry, or aligned, with each other. The separation between the sides S of the inserts I is approximately the same as the length of the transfer bar 20.

The final step is to pack the hanger assemblies 10 into the inserts I starting with the lowest pair of openings O. The transfer bar 20 mounted to the opening O of the insert I is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Once the inserts I in the carton are full, the carton is then shipped to a hanger recycling or recovery facility (not shown).

The hanger recovery facility inspects, cleans, and sorts the hangers. These hangers are then distributed to the apparel vendors for reuse in their next shipment of floor-ready garments to merchants to complete the cycle. Hangers that are broken or otherwise not acceptable are either scrapped or recycled.

Another contemplated use of the transfer bar 20 of the present invention is to directly receive hangers H after they are removed from the garment. That is, instead of using a hanger bar B, the sales associate would place the hangers H on a transfer bar suspended between an appropriate support (not shown). When an appropriate quantity of hangers are received on the transfer bar 20, the stock associate would place the retainer member 30 on the transfer bar 20 and over the hanger hooks, remove the hanger assembly 10 from the support, and then place another transfer bar 20 on the support to receive additional hangers.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific details of certain embodiments thereof, it is not intended that such details should be regarded as limitations upon the scope of the invention except as and to the extent that they are included in the accompanying claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A hanger assembly, comprising: a. an elongated transfer bar having a top surface, adapted to receive and support a substantially arcuate hook of each of a plurality of hangers thereon, and two ends, each end adapted to engage a support structure; b. a retainer member having a longitudinal axis, opposed ends, an upper side, and an opposed lower side adapted to be disposed over a portion of the top surface of said transfer bar; and c. means for removably connecting said retainer member to said transfer bar, wherein said connecting means is movable between an engaged position, in which a portion of said connecting means detachably engages a portion of said transfer bar, and a disengaged position, in which said connecting means is spaced apart from said transfer bar so that said retainer member can be separated from the top surface of said transfer bar to allow the hangers to be disposed on the top surface thereof, such that when the hook of each hanger is received and supported on said transfer bar, the portion of the hanger is disposed intermediate said retainer member and said transfer bar.

2. The hanger assembly of Claim 1, wherein said retainer member defines at least one slot therethrough disposed adjacent one of its ends and wherein said connecting means is at least partially disposed in the slot of said retainer member.

3. The hanger assembly of Claim 1, wherein said retainer member defines at least one slot therethrough disposed adjacent one of its ends and wherein said connecting means comprises at least one latch member, each of said latch members comprising: a. a tongue disposed adjacent the lower side of said retainer member and having a tip adapted to engage a portion of said transfer bar adjacent its end; b. a handle means disposed adjacent the upper side of said retainer member; and c. means for attaching said handle means to a portion of said tongue through the slot in said retainer member, wherein said tongue and said handle means are slidable along at least a portion of said slot so that said tongue is slidably movable between the engaged and disengaged positions.

4. The hanger assembly of Claim 1, wherein said transfer bar is substantially arcuate in cross section and said retainer member is substantially arcuate in cross section so that the lower side of said retainer member is complementarily received over the top surface of said transfer bar and the arcuate portion of any hangers disposed on said transfer bar.

5. The hanger assembly of Claim 3 , wherein the upper side of said retainer member comprises two longitudinally-extending protrusions such that the slot of said retainer member is disposed therebetween, and wherein the handle means of said latch member is disposed intermediate said protrusions so that said protrusions prevent said latch member from twisting relative to the longitudinal axis of said retainer member.

6. The hanger assembly of Claim 3, wherein a portion of said transfer bar adjacent one of its ends defines an opening therethrough sized to complementarily receive a portion of the tongue of said latch member therein.

7. The hanger assembly of Claim 6, wherein the tip of the tongue of said latch member is wedge shaped to guide said tongue entering into the opening through said transfer bar.

8. The hanger assembly of Claim 3, wherein said retainer member defines two slots therethrough, each slot disposed adjacent a respective end of said retainer member and having a latch member slidably mounted thereto, and wherein each of said two latch members detachably connects to a portion of said transfer bar.

9. A method of transferring a plurality of hangers, each having a hook, from a hanger rack bar, comprising the steps of: a. placing a transfer bar under the hanger rack bar adjacent a portion of the hooks of the hangers hung therefrom; b. rotating said transfer bar so that said transfer bar completes its rotation disposed beneath a portion of the hook of each hanger; c. detachably engaging a retainer member to a portion of said transfer bar, such that the hooks of each hanger are retained between said retainer member and said transfer bar, thereby forming a hanger assembly; and d. moving said hanger assembly to a desired location.

10. The method of Claim 9, wherein the desired location that said hanger assembly is moved is a carton having a plurality of openings therethrough in which at least one pair of openings are in registry with each other and spaced apart to removably receive and support one of said hanger assemblies therebetween.