String- or strap-based hanger system for container

Abstract

The invention relates to a string- or strap based hanger system for containers, comprising a main hanger bar, suited to be attached to a holding structure connected to a shipping container and dimensioned to spanning the entire width of the container, and a plurality of vertical item hangers coupled to said hanger bar and extending from the main hanger bar in a general direction downward. The hanger system further comprises a top plus hanger and at least one horizontal item hanger to hold at least one horizontal item hanger arrangeable along an extension direction of the second hanger bar and preferably located between a first and a top plus vertical item hanger of the main hanger bar.

Claims

1. String- or strap-based hanger system (10) for containers (1), comprising a first hanger bar (12) and holding means (16), wherein the first hanger bar is attached to the holding means (16), and wherein the holding means are connectable to a support (17) of a shipping container (1), wherein the first hanger bar is dimensioned to spanning the entire inner width of the container (1), and a plurality of vertical item hangers (20, 20a) are coupled to said first hanger bar (12) and extending from the first hanger bar (12) in a general direction downward, wherein the vertical item hangers (20, 20a) in use hold a plurality of items with subsequent items having a vertical offset with respect to the adjacent items, wherein the vertical item hangers (20, 20a) are straps or strings, characterized in that the hanger system (10) further comprises a second hanger bar (14) arranged parallel to the first hanger bar (12); and multiple horizontal item hangers (30) coupled to said second hanger bar (14), wherein the multiple horizontal item hangers (30) is-are arrangeable along an extension direction of the second hanger bar (14), and are situated at positions between adjacent vertical item hangers (20, 20a) arranged on the first hanger bar (12) to make use of an unoccupied space in the upper part of the container (1) between the adjacent vertical item hangers (20, 20a); and wherein the multiple horizontal item hangers (30) provide top number zero nodes for hanging garments (29a) above the topmost node of the adjacent vertical item hangers (20, 20a).

2. Hanger system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second hanger bar (14) is a circular steel bar.

3. Hanger system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second hanger bar (14) has a diameter of 2.5 to 6.6 cm.

4. Hanger system (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the second hanger bar (14) is placed in a distance from the cross-sectional center of the first hanger bar (12) to the cross-sectional center of the second hanger bar (14) of 3 to 30 cm.

5. Hanger system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second hanger bar (14) comprises a retaining element (31) adapted to partially covering the second hanger bar (14) and the horizontal item hangers (30), such that by fixing the retaining element (31) to the second hanger bar (14), the horizontal item hangers (30) attached to the second hanger bar (14) are also fixed to the second hanger bar (14).

6. Hanger system (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the retaining element (31) comprises at least one fixing elements (32), adapted to fixing the retaining element (31) to the second hanger bar (14).

7. Container (1) for transportation comprising at least one hanger system (10) according to claim 1.

8. Hanger system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that vertical item hangers (20, 20a) and horizontal item hangers (30) are arranged alternately, with at least one horizontal item hanger (30) provided in a width direction between the vertical item hangers (20, 20a) when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the first hanger bar (12).

9. Hanger system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second hanger bar (14) comprises a scale indicating predefined positions for vertical item hangers (20, 20a) and/or for horizontal item hangers (30).

10. Hanger system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first hanger bar (12) comprises a scale indicating predefined positions for vertical item hangers (20, 20a) and/or for horizontal item hangers (30).

11. String-or strap-based hanger system (10) for containers (1), comprising a first hanger bar (12) and holding means (16), wherein the first hanger bar is attached to the holding means (16), and wherein the holding means are connectable to a support (17) of a shipping container (1), wherein the first hanger bar is dimensioned to spanning the entire inner width of the container (1), and a plurality of vertical item hangers (20, 20a) coupled to said first hanger bar (12) and extending from the first hanger bar (12) in a general direction downward, wherein the vertical item hangers (20, 20a) in use hold a plurality of items with subsequent items having a vertical offset with respect to the adjacent items, wherein the vertical item hangers (20, 20a) are straps or strings, characterized in that the hanger system (10) further comprising multiple horizontal item hangers (30), wherein the multiple horizontal item hangers (30) are arrangeable along an extension direction of the first hanger bar (12) and are situated at positions between adjacent vertical item hangers (20, 20a) arranged on the first hanger bar (12) to make use of an unoccupied space in the upper part of the container (1) between the adjacent vertical item hangers (20, 20a); and wherein the multiple horizontal item hangers (30) provide top number zero nodes for hanging garments (29a) above the topmost node of the adjacent vertical item hangers (20, 20a).

12. Hanger system (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that vertical item hangers (20, 20a) and horizontal item hangers (30) are arranged alternately, with at least one horizontal item hanger (30) provided in a width direction between the vertical item hangers (20, 20a) when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the first hanger bar (12).

13. Hanger system (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that the first hanger bar (12) comprises a scale indicating predefined positions for vertical item hangers (20, 20a) and/or for horizontal item hangers (30).

14. Container (1) for transportation comprising at least one hanger system (10) according to claim 11.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention are provided, showcasing various ways to realize its potential. The figures are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is solely defined by the claims for protection. In the figures

(2) FIG. 1 is a container for transporting hanging garment according to one embodiment;

(3) FIGS. 2a-2b shows known vertical hangers FIG. 2a) as strings and FIG. 2b) as straps;

(4) FIG. 3 is a container for transporting hanging garment according to a further embodiment;

(5) FIG. 4 is a view upward to the ceiling in a container according to an embodiment;

(6) FIG. 5 is an embodiment of a second hanger bar with a retaining element.

(7) Reference signs in the different figures refer to same or similarly acting elements, if not indicated differently. The description thereof is only repeated, if this helps understanding the invention better or to emphasize differences between individual figures or embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) FIG. 1 is a container 1 for transporting hanging garment 29. Within the container 1, along a sidewall 2 and close to a ceiling 3 extends along the length direction of the container a holding means 16. The holding means 16 preferably is designed as a V-steel rail to enable for heavy loading. The holding means 16 are supported by supports 17, e.g. lashing rings, which are distributed in regular distances along the sidewall 2. In a width direction of the container 1, from one sidewall 2 to the other sidewall, a hanger system 10 is provided. The hanger system 10 in the embodiment of FIG. 1 comprises a plurality of first hanger bars 12. The first hanger bars 12 are provided with a plurality of vertical item hangers 20, having stitches or knots, creating loops capable of receiving hanging garments on the knots/stitches of the string/strap as described in more detail in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b. The first hanging bars 12 of the hanger system preferably are rectangular bars coupled to the holding means 16, i.e., coupled on the V-Steel rails. The vertical item hangers, such as strings or straps are fastened to the hanging bar.

(9) The first hanger bars 12 are distributed in parallel to another along the ceiling 2 of the container 1 in a distance allowing the placement of one garment element 29 hanging from one first hanger bar 12 next to a garment element 29 hanging from the adjacent first hanger bar 12. Preferably, there is little to no space between the garment elements 29 in the length direction of the container 1, so that the space is used as efficiently as possible.

(10) As can be seen in the upper part of the container, close to the hanger bar 12, void spaces 18 are formed which remain unused in conventional hanger systems, compared with the part of middle and lower height.

(11) FIG. 2a shows an embodiment of a vertical item hanger 20, wherein the vertical item hanger 20 is a string. The string is provided as a double strand with multiple knots 24, with two adjacent knots forming a loop 22 in the double strand string. In order to fasten the vertical item hanger 20 at the first hanger bar, a loop 22 is also formed in an end section of the vertical item hanger 20, forming a holding section. The material of the string-like vertical item hanger 20 preferably is polypropylene. Of course, other materials can also be used.

(12) FIG. 2b shows another embodiment of vertical item hanger 20a, wherein the vertical item hanger 20a is a strap. The strap, like the string 20, is provided as a double strand or shaped as a long loop formed by a long strap folded back on itself. Along the strand, multiple seams 24a are provided in predefined distances from one another and spanning the width of the strap. The seams 24a fix the two strands of the strap to each other, thereby, like the knots 24, forming loops 22a between two adjacent seams 24a or between the last seam 24a with the folding section of the strap.

(13) By forming the loops 22, 22a in the vertical item hanger 20, 20a, a garment hanger 28 can be placed in such a loop 22, 22a and find support in the knot 24 or the seam 24a as the case may be. One vertical item hanger 20, 20a commonly is equipped with 8 or 16 knots, while in the embodiments shown herein typically 8 knots are displayed for better visibility of properties.

(14) The vertical item hangers 20, 20a further comprise a holding section 26. The holding section 26 is provided for fixing and holding the vertical item hangers 20, 20a at the first hanger bar 12.

(15) FIG. 3 shows a container 1 with a hanger system 10 which, on the V-Steel rails of the system as shown in FIG. 1, comprises in addition to a first hanger bar 12 a second hanger bar 14. As described earlier, the first hanger bars 12 are equipped with vertical item hangers 20. The second hanger bars 14 are provided as circular steel bars in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 and again more clearly visible in FIG. 4.

(16) The second hanger bars 14 are equipped with horizontal item hangers 30. When looking in a length direction of the container 1, which is a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the first and second hanger bars, the vertical item hangers 20 are positioned spaced apart from another as already shown in FIG. 1, in order to receive a number of garment elements 29 corresponding to the number of loops 22 formed in the vertical item hanger 20. The space thereby created in the upper region of the container, i.e., the region of the top knots of the vertical item hanger 20, is used for placing a predefined number of garment elements 29a at the second hanger bar 14. Thus, the horizontal item hangers 30 are placed intermittently between the vertical item hangers 12 while at the same time alternating between the first hanger bar 12 for a vertical item hanger 20, and the second hanger bar 14 for a horizontal item hanger 30.

(17) Considering that the strings/straps as described in FIGS. 2a and 2b comprise knots/stitches forming the nodes top one/two/three . . . , the horizontal item hangers 30 on the second hanger bar 14 actually act as the node top number zero knot/stitch. That way the number of garments may be increased, as the number of available nodes is increased.

(18) FIG. 4 shows the hanger system in a view from below toward the ceiling 3 of the container 1. As shown in FIG. 4 in greater detail, the first hanger bar 12 and the second hanger bar 14 are set at a distance to another, which is big enough to allow the equipping of the second hanger bar with horizontal item hangers but only as wide as necessary, in order to save as much space as possible. That way, the void spaces 18 as visible in particular FIG. 1 available in the upper region of the container can be used more efficiently.

(19) The second hanger bar 14 has a diameter of 2.5 to 6.6 cm, preferably 3 to 4 cm, preferentially 3.3 cm. The second hanger bar 14 is placed in a distance center to center of the first hanger bar 12 and the second hanger bar 14 of 3 to 30 cm apart from the first hanger bar 12. More specifically, the preferred distance is 5 to 8 cm center to center of the respective hanger bars 12, 14. More preferably the distance is 6 to 7 cm center to center. Preferentially the distance from the cross sectional center of the second hanger bar 14 is about 6.6 cm from the cross-sectional center of the next first hanger bar 12.

(20) FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the second hanger bar 14 fixed to the holding means 16. In this embodiment, the horizontal item hangers are exemplified as clothes hangers. The second hanger bar further comprises a retaining element 31, partially covering the horizontal item hangers 30. The retaining element 31 comprises fixing elements 32, which allow fixing of the retaining element to the second hanger bar. By fixing the retaining element 31 to the second hanger bar 14 while the horizontal item hangers 30 are attached to the second hanger bar, the retaining element 31 fixes the horizontal item hangers 30 to the second hanger bar 14. The fixing element 32 in the embodiment shown is exemplified as a cable retainer, for one time use. In other embodiments, the fixing element may also be a reusable element. Further, the retaining element 31 and the fixing element 32 can be fixedly coupled to another. It is to be noted that FIG. 5 is not to scale. As previously discussed, the second hanger bar 14 may comprise a plurality of horizontal item hangers 30 distributed along the entire length of the second hanger bar, according to the requirements of the specific transport planned.

REFERENCE SIGN LIST

(21) 1 container 2 container side wall 3 container ceiling 10 hanger system 12 first hanger bar 14 second hanger bar 16 holding means/V-Steel rails 17 support 18 void space 20, 20a vertical item hangers 22, 22a knot/stitch 24, 24a hanger loop 26 holding section 28 garment hanger 29, 29a garment element 30 horizontal item hangers 31 retaining element 32 fixing element