GARMENT HANGER

Abstract

A garment hanger (10) having a rail engaging portion (12) and a stem (14). The stem (14) comprises a first section (16) extending from the rail engaging portion (12) and arranged substantially parallel therewith, a spacer section (18) extending substantially perpendicularly from the first section (16) and a tail section (20) extending from the spacer section (18) and directed towards the first section (16) and/or the rail engaging portion (12). The stem (14) forms a loop with an opening between the end of the tail section (20) and the first section (16) of the stem (14).

Claims

1. A garment hanger having a rail engaging portion and a stem, wherein, the stem comprises: first section extending from the rail engaging portion, a spacer section extending from the first section; and a tail section extending from the spacer section and directed towards the first section and/or the rail engaging portion, wherein the stem forms an open loop with an opening between the end of the tail section and the first section of the stem.

2. A garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein the spacer section is substantially flat and extends in a direction substantially perpendicularly from the first section.

3. A garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein the opening is positioned above the spacer section.

4. A garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein the opening between the tail section and the first section of the stem is less than half of the length of the spacer section.

5. A garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein a tail flange is provided on the tail section and that extends in a direction away from the stem and the spacer section.

6. A garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein the span of the stem is less than the bight of the rail engaging section.

7. A garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein the width of stem is substantially uniform.

8. A garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein the rail engaging portion is a hook having a span and the spacer section extends in a direction that is non-parallel with the plane of the span of the hook.

9. A garment hanger assembly comprising: a garment hanger according to any preceding claim and provided with an aperture therein; and connection means; wherein a loop of the garment engages the open loop of the hanger and the connection means passes through the aperture in the garment hanger and engages the garment.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a from view of a hanger in accordance with the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hanger of FIG. 1;

[0029] FIG. 3 is a side view of the hanger of FIG. 1; and

[0030] FIG. 4 shows the hanger of FIG. 1 in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0031] FIGS. 1 to 4 show a hanger 10 for hanging a garment on a rail, comprising a rail engaging portion in the form of a hook 12, and a stem 14. The stem 14 extends substantially parallel and/or planarly with the plane of the bight, or span, of the hook 12.

[0032] The stem 14 has a lower end 16, which is connected to a first end of a planar elongate spacer section 18 that extends rearwardly from the stem, that is, substantially orthogonally behind the plane of the span of the hook 12, to create a shelf. The other end of the spacer section 18 is connected to a first end of a tail section 20 that extends in a direction towards the first section 16 and/or the hook 12 to create a substantially triangular open loop with a gap opposite the spacer section 18. The second end of the tail section 20 is provided with a tail flange 22 that extends away from the first section 16.

[0033] The internal angle A between the first section 16 and the spacer section 18 is substantially 90 degrees. The angle B between the spacer section 18 and the tail section 20 is 90 degrees or, preferably, less. The angle C between the tail section 20 and the tail flange 22 is substantially between 30 and 120 degrees. This creates a substantially triangular open loop having a gap G between the second end of the tail section 20 and the first section 16 and arranged above the spacer section 18, the width of the gap being less than the length S of the spacer section 18.

[0034] The hanger 10 is constructed from a resiliently yieldable material so that it can elastically deform to allow a loop of a garment to pass through the gap G. That yieldable material may be, inter alia, plastics material or metal. The parts of the hanger below the hooks are substantially fixed relative to one another so that the hanger holds its shape and is relatively rigid, albeit that it can elastically flex, when required.

[0035] In use, one or a plurality of loops 28 of a garment 30 are fed onto the hanger 10. This is achieved by pushing the, or each, loop through the gap G. When the loop is thicker than the gap G, the hanger elastically yields in order to allow the loop into the triangular open loop formed by the stem 14. Because gap G elastically returns to its original size, the loops are held on the hanger and have a low chance of passive disengaging therefrom. The garment can be hung on a rail 32 via hook 12.

[0036] The tail flange 22 helps to guide the loop of the garment into the gap G by forming a secondary, guide wall that converges on the gap G. The tail flange 22 can also be used to open the gap G wider by putting pressure on the tail flange 22, for example by using a thumb, thereby allowing a user to more easily attach the garment to, or remove the garment from, the hanger 10.

[0037] Hook 12 has a span, or bight, H intended to engage a garment display rail 32 and the width of the stem 14 and parts connected thereto may be less than that of the span H. Additionally, the width of the stem is, preferably, uniform.

[0038] The spacer section 18 is substantially flat, but could be curved convexly or concavely on one or both sides (internal and/or external to the loop), if required.

[0039] The tail section may be substantially parallel with the first section thereby creating a U-shaped open loop, although it is preferable that it extends towards the first section to create a substantially triangular-shaped open loop with an aperture therein positioned adjacent the stem.

[0040] The second end of the tail section is not fixedly attached to the first section, thus, even if the second end of the tail section was to touch the first section of the stem, it is still an open loop that can be readily enlarged to engage or disengage the hanger from a garment.

[0041] The hanger may be provided with an aperture in it, for example in the stem, possibly at the first section 16, through which retaining means may pass. The retaining means, which may be in the form of a loop, string, chain, tie, kimble tag or other flexible member, can be employed to attach the hanger to the garment independently from the tail section. One way in which this may be enabled is to pass the retaining means through a loop of the garment and through the aperture of the hanger or to puncture the garment with the retaining means and also passing the retaining means through the hole. Thus, even if the garment is removed from the hanger, the hanger is still attached to the garment via the attachment means.

[0042] The hanger may comprise a body section between the rail engaging portion and the stem, wherein the body is shaped to allow for the application of a label or other information.

[0043] A garment is generally considered to be an item of clothing that may be worn by a person. Therefore, it may include, but is not limited to, trousers, shorts, jeans, skirts, jackets, jumpers or shirts. Accessories, such as hats, sunglasses, bags and belts are not considered to be garments, although the hanger may, in some circumstances be employed on these items.