Hanging device and assembly

Abstract

A garment hanger comprising a rail engaging portion and garment supporting means in the form of a deformable elongate member. The end of the elongate member distal from the rail engaging portion comprises a first part of a connection mechanism such that the elongate member can be deformed back upon itself and connected to a second part of the connection mechanism of the hanger to form a closed loop. The hanger further comprises an aperture for attaching the hanger to the garment.

Claims

1. A method of using a garment and hanger assembly, comprising the steps: (i) displaying the garment and hanger assembly in a first, display state on a display rail in a store, in which the garment and hanger assembly in the first, display state comprises: a garment having at one least one loop; a garment hanger having: garment supporting means threaded through the at least one loop of the garment and supporting the garment on the garment hanger by the at least one loop when hung on the display rail in the first, display state; and attachment means attaching the garment hanger to the garment and retaining the garment on the garment hanger independently from the garment supporting means; a rail engaging portion that engages the display rail when hung in the first, display state; and an aperture that receives the attachment means; wherein the garment supporting means includes a deformable elongate member, an end of the elongate member distal from the rail engaging portion comprising a first part of a connection mechanism such that the deformable elongate member is threaded through the at least one loop of the garment and deformed back upon itself and connected to a second part of the connection mechanism of the hanger to form a releasable loop that is interlinked with the at least one loop and that holds the garment to the deformable elongate member by the at least one loop in the first, display state; wherein the attachment means includes a flexible tie passing through the aperture in the garment hanger and connected to the garment, wherein the flexible tie has a length that enables the garment to be removed from the deformable elongate member for trying on the garment while the flexible tie retains the garment on the garment hanger; and wherein the releasable loop formed by the deformable member can be released to allow the garment to be tried on, and later reattached to the garment with the deformable member reconnected by being threaded through the at least one loop of the garment, all while the flexible tie retains the garment on the garment hanger even when the releasable loop is released; (ii) obtaining the garment and hanger assembly in the store in a second, unreleased state after the garment and hanger assembly has been tried on by a potential customer in the store, wherein in the second, unreleased state, the first and second parts of the connection mechanism are disconnected, the releasable loop is released, and the elongate member is unthreaded from the at least one loop of the garment, all while the flexible tie retains the garment on the garment hanger even when the releasable loop is released; (iii) reconfiguring the garment and hanger assembly back into the first, display state by: (a) reattaching the deformable member to the garment by threading the deformable elongate member through the at least one loop of the garment and closing the hanger by deforming the elongate member back upon itself and connecting the second part to the first part to reform the releasable loop; and (b) rehanging the garment on the display rail or another display rail in the store by using the rail engaging portion of the hanger and supporting the garment on the hanger using the deformable member threaded through the at least one loop; wherein each of steps (i) through (iii) are performed while the flexible tie remains attached to both the garment and the hanger.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of: removing the garment hanger from the garment by disengaging or cutting the flexible tie in the store at checkout.

3. The garment and hanger assembly according to claim 2, wherein the garment hanger includes a security tag that is removed during the step of removing the garment hanger from the garment at checkout.

4. The garment and hanger assembly according to claim 1, wherein a lower end of the releasable loop is formed by a flat portion of the elongate member.

5. The garment and hanger assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rail engaging portion has a span and wherein the elongate member has a width along its length that is less than the span of the rail engaging portion.

6. The garment and hanger assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongate member has a uniform width along its length.

7. The garment and hanger assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongate member has at least two predetermined weakened regions along which the elongate member deforms to form the releasable loop.

8. The garment and hanger assembly of claim 7, wherein a portion of the elongate member between the predetermined weakened regions is flat and located at a lower end of the releasable loop.

9. The garment and hanger assembly of claim 1, wherein the aperture in the garment hanger is located on a portion of the deformable member.

10. The garment and hanger assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible tie is formed as a loop and is secured to the garment by being threaded through the at least one loop of the garment through which the deformable member is attached.

11. The garment and hanger assembly of claim 1, wherein the garment is a pair of trousers, a pair of shorts, a pair of jeans, or a skirt; and wherein the at least one loop is a belt loop.

12. The garment and hanger assembly according to claim 1, wherein the flexible tie is selected from a group consisting of: a kimble tag; a string; and a wire.

13. A method of using a garment and hanger assembly, comprising: (i) obtaining the garment and hanger assembly from a display rail in a store, in which the garment and hanger assembly comprises: a garment having at one least one loop; a garment hanger having: garment supporting means threaded through the at least one loop of the garment and supporting the garment on the garment hanger by the at least one loop when hung on the display rail; and attachment means attaching the garment hanger to the garment and retaining the garment on the garment hanger independently from the garment supporting means; a rail engaging portion that engages the display rail when hung; and an aperture that receives the attachment means; wherein the garment supporting means includes a deformable elongate member, an end of the elongate member distal from the rail engaging portion comprising a first part of a connection mechanism such that the deformable elongate member is threaded through the at least one loop of the garment and deformed back upon itself and connected to a second part of the connection mechanism of the hanger to form a releasable loop that is interlinked with the at least one loop and that holds the garment to the deformable elongate member; wherein the attachment means includes a flexible tie passing through the aperture in the garment hanger and connected to the garment, wherein the flexible tie has a length that enables the garment to be removed from the deformable elongate member for trying on the garment while the flexible tie retains the garment on the garment hanger; and wherein the releasable loop formed by the deformable member can be released to allow the garment to be tried on, and later reattached to the garment with the deformable member reconnected by being threaded through the at least one loop of the garment, all while the flexible tie retains the garment on the garment hanger even when the releasable loop is released; and (ii) trying on the garment and hanger assembly in the store by: (a) releasing the releasable loop by disconnecting the first and second parts of the connection mechanism; (b) unthreading the elongate member from the at least one loops of the garment; and (c) putting on the garment while the flexible tie retains the garment hanger on the garment.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein after the step (ii) of trying on the garment and hanger assembly in the store, the method further comprises a step of: (iii) reattaching the deformable member to the garment by threading the deformable elongate member through the at least one loop of the garment, and closing the hanger by deforming the elongate member back upon itself and connecting the second part to the first part to reform the releasable loop.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein after the step (iii) of reattaching, the method further comprises a step of: (iv) hanging the garment on the display rail or another display rail in the store by using the rail engaging portion of the hanger and supporting the garment on the hanger using the deformable member threaded through the at least one loop, all while the flexible tie remains attached to both the garment and the hanger.

16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising a step of: removing the garment hanger from the garment by disengaging or cutting the flexible tie in the store at checkout.

17. The garment and hanger assembly according to claim 16, wherein the garment hanger includes a security tag that is removed during the step of removing the garment hanger from the garment at checkout.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1a is a diagram showing an isometric view of a hanger attachment in accordance with the present invention;

(3) FIG. 1b is a front view of the hanger attachment of FIG. 1a;

(4) FIG. 1c is a side view of the hanger attachment of FIG. 1a

(5) FIG. 2 is a diagram of an assembly of a hanger and the hanger attachment of FIGS. 1a to 1c;

(6) FIG. 3 is a view of a hanger and connector in accordance with the present invention;

(7) FIG. 4 is a view of a further hanger and connector in accordance with the present invention; and

(8) FIG. 5 is a hanger in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

(9) FIGS. 1a to 1c show a hanger attachment 10 for gripping a garment. The attachment 10 comprises a boarder 12 with a slot-shaped connection aperture 14 at one edge of the boarder 12 and a secondary aperture 16 within the boarder 12. Immediately below the connection aperture 14, an extension section 18 protrudes from the boarder 12 and a resilient rectangular gripping tongue 20 is attached substantially perpendicularly to the extension section 18, such that the tongue 20 is angled towards the secondary aperture 16. In a rest position, the resilient tongue 20 may be received into the secondary aperture 16 or it may be close thereto. This provides a tight gripping mechanism when the device 10 is used to engage part of a garment.

(10) The intended underside of the tongue 20, that is, the side that faces the secondary aperture 16, is provided with a plurality of gripping teeth 22 arranged across the tongue 20 and spaced therealong. The boarder 12 is also provided with gripping teeth 24 arranged to extend from the boarder 12 in the direction towards the tongue 20. The teeth 22 and 24 are angled on their side opposite from the extension section 18. This aids with passing garments over the teeth 22 and 24 and under the tongue 20. The other side of the teeth 22 and 24 is substantially perpendicular to the boarder 12 and the tongue 20 in order to grip more securely.

(11) When in use, the attachment 10 fixes onto a hanger using connection aperture 14 and a garment is pushed between the tongue 20 and the boarder 12, over the teeth 22 and 24. As the garment is push into the attachment, the tongue 20 yields to allow the garment in. The tongue 20 then attempts to return to its original position, due to its resilience and it exerts a force on the garment to grip it between the tongue 20 and the boarder 12. The teeth 22 and 24 assist in gripping the garment and reducing the likelihood of it being released.

(12) FIG. 2 shows an attachment device 10 connected to a hanger 30. The hanger 30 has an elongate part 32 that folds to form a loop having and substantially flat spacer 34 at its intended lower end. The elongate part 32 is fed through the attachment 10 and then connected to the hanger 30 so that the attachment 10 is retained on the hanger. The elongate part 32 may also be fed through a belt loop on a garment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in relation to another aspect of the present invention. In such an arrangement, the belt loop could be fed onto the elongate part 32 first and the attachment 10 applied thereafter. The loop of the hanger 30 is then closed and part of the garment is fed into the attachment 10 to retain it. The garment can this have its drop height reduced by using the attachment 10.

(13) Where the garment is a pair of jeans, the leg of the jeans is folded and the thigh, knee or shin region of the legs of the jeans is placed into the gripping mechanism of the attachment. This reduces the overall drop height and allows the garment to still be hung from the waistline by the hanger.

(14) FIG. 3 shows a hanger 40 comprising a rail engaging portion 42 and a deformable elongate member 44. The end of the elongate member 44 distal from the rail engaging portion 42 comprises a first part of a connection mechanism such that the elongate member can be deformed back upon itself and connected to a second part of the connection mechanism of the hanger to form a loop. The second part of the connection mechanism is on the back of the hanger.

(15) The elongate member of the hanger 40 comprises three predetermined weakened regions along which the elongate member deforms to form the loop. At the same time as forming the loop, a substantially flat spacer is formed at the intended lower end of the loop.

(16) The hanger 40 is provided with an aperture 46 within the material from which it is constructed, which although shown as being in the elongate member 44, may be positioned anywhere on the hanger 40. The material of the hanger is effectively punctured to create the aperture, although it may be formed during the moulding process. This results in a relatively small aperture through which a tie may be threaded such that the hanger may be connected to a garment.

(17) The elongate member 44 is threaded through the loop of a garment and the connection mechanism is secured to form a loop having a spacer upon which the garment rests. A tie 48, in the form of a flexible length of plastics material, also known as a “kimble”, is threaded through the aperture 46 and through the garment. The kimble 48 comprises a thin length of plastics material with barbs at each end to prevent it becoming readily disengaged. The tie 48 attaches the hanger 40 to the garment so that they are connected in a relatively secure manner. This prevents the hanger from becoming separated from the garment. When the garment is purchased, the tie 48 can be removed and the hanger taken off the garment.

(18) The garment may be folded and the hanger 40 threaded through two belt loops. In such a situation, to try on the garment, a customer can disconnect the connection mechanism of the loop of the hanger 40 and slide the elongate member 44 back through the loops of the garment. The customer can then try on the garment but the hanger 40 remains attached to the garment so that the size label is not removed. The hanger can then be threaded back through two belt loops and reconnected to hang the garment. By folding the garment and threading the hanger through two belt loops, the garment can take up less space. However, with the hanger been attached to the garment, it is not easily lost and applied to a different garment.

(19) FIG. 4 shows an arrangement similar to that shown in FIG. 3, wherein the flexible tie 48a comprises a loop of material that is connected to itself and passes through the loop of the garment too.

(20) FIG. 5 shows a garment hanger 60 in accordance with the present invention and that may be used in the hanger assemblies of the present invention. The hanger 60 comprises a rail engaging portion 62 in the form of a hook. The rail engaging portion 62 is connected to a body section 64, which is in turn connected to an elongate garment engaging portion 66. The elongate portion 66 comprises three weakened regions 68. The distal end of the elongate portion 66 is provided with one part 74 of a connection mechanism and the proximal end of the elongate portion 66 is provided with another part 72 of the connection mechanism. The two parts of the connection mechanism can be releasably joined. The elongate portion 66 may be folded, for first two of which 68a and 68b fold inwardly to create a substantially flat spacer, or shelf, on which a garment may rest when in use, as shown in the previous figures. The third weakened region 68c folds backward to reduce the stress on the connection member 72 and 74. In its folded position with the connection members 72 and 74 joined, the elongate portion 66 forms a closed loop. A connection hole 76 is provided in the elongate portion, although it may be provided at any position on the hanger 60. The connection hole 76 allows one to connect the hanger to a garment by threading a tie through the hole and attaching the tie to the garment.

(21) Where the hanger of the present invention does not need connecting to the garment independently of the garment engaging means, the connection hole 76 may be omitted. This may be useful when using the hanger attachment but not connecting the hanger to the garment using connection means separate from the garment engaging element. Additionally, the rail engaging portion may be connected directly to the elongate portion without the need for a body section.

(22) The attachment and the hanger may both be formed of plastics material and/or metal. Preferably, the attachment comprises a relatively rigid plastics material, such as polystyrene so that it is fairly rigid but has some yieldability. The attachment may be substantially rigid, although it may be desirable for it to comprise a flexible portion between the connection aperture and the gripping section.

(23) The hanger assembly may be an integral moulding rather than being two separate parts. In such an arrangement the gripping section is moulded onto the body of the hanger rather than being a separate part that is connected to the hanger.

(24) It may be desirable to attach a security tag, such as an RFID security tag, to the hanger. Because the hanger may be substantially permanently connected to the garment until it is sold, the security tag will also be attached thereto. In one arrangement, the security tag may be overmoulded into the plastics material of the hanger itself.

(25) Hanger may be attached to the garment using a pin or other non-flexible retaining means.

(26) The attachment for reducing the drop height could be used with clip hangers and other hanger types by sliding it over the hook portion of a hanger using the connection aperture.

(27) A “garment” is considered to be an item of clothing that may be worn by a person. Therefore, the may be trousers, shorts, jeans, skirts, jackets, jumpers or shirts, although the list is not limited thereto. Accessories, such as hats, sunglasses and belts are not considered to be garments.

(28) The gripping tongue may be substantially rectangular or another suitable shape, such as a quadrilateral circle, semi-circle or triangle. It is preferably that the length dimension of the tongue is greater than its width.

(29) The tie to connect the hanger to the garment may be rigid or flexible. Although it is preferred that it is flexible and of sufficient length for the hanger to be positioned clear of the garment, it may be desirable in some circumstances for the tie to be rigid.

(30) The features of the embodiments disclosed herein may be used in combination with or in place of features of other embodiments of the invention.

(31) The gripping section may be located immediately below, and it may be vertically in-line with, the connection aperture of the garment hanger attachment. Alternatively, it may be offset from the connection aperture.

(32) The hanger attachment may be provided with an aperture through which connection means may pass that connect the hanger attachment to a garment. This may be used in combination with a hanger as described herein and the same connection means may pass through both the hanger and the hanger attachment.