Hanger hook for a garment hanger with indicator

A plastic garment hanger having a hook with an abutment for engaging an aperture formed in an indicator cap to support the indicator cap on the hanger is provided. A hook having an upwardly projecting web which defines an aperture wherein a descending flexible tongue for engaging an aperture formed in an indicator cap is also provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to indicators for garment hangers of the type which 
may be used to indicate the size of a garment supported by the hanger 
and/or the name of the manufacturer or retailer. This invention is also 
directed to the field of garment hangers to which indicators are attached 
and from which clothing or other articles of apparel are suspended. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
For purposes of displaying garments suspended on hangers in an orderly and 
attractive manner to the retail customer, it is often desired to affix an 
indicating means on the hanger in a position visible to the retail 
customer while the hanger is suspended on a rack. The indicating means 
identifies some attribute of the garment suspended from the hanger, such 
as size, quality, color, manufacturing data, or pattern. 
To accommodate the various types of hangers available in the industry 
numerous indicating means have been developed in a variety of shapes, 
sizes and materials. Similarly, hangers have been developed to accommodate 
a variety of different indicating means. 
For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,661 to Johansson a carrier attached to 
the bottom of a hook of a garment hanger is disclosed. A label may be 
adhered to or inserted in the carrier portion. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,024,953 to O'Keefe discloses a rectangular plastic guard 
which is adapted to be secured to the wire hook of a clothes hanger, and 
which extends upwardly therefrom to assist in preventing the clothes 
hangers from becoming entangled with one another. 
U.S. Pat. No. 1,099,261 to Lewyt discloses a clothes hanger particularly 
adapted for hanging sets of furs, with a metal rectangular plate 10 which 
receives an index card describing the furs suspended therefrom and is 
positioned substantially between the hook and body portion of the hanger. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,115,940 to Phillips discloses an indicia-bearing tab which 
attaches to a member located substantially at the junction of both the 
hook and the body member. 
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 302,214 to Wilson includes two embodiments directed to 
ornamental designs for garment hangers which include a designated member 
for attaching an indicating means. 
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 244,197 to Ostroll discloses an ornamental design for a 
size indicator that is intended for attachment to a garment hanger. 
The provision of a readily visible size indicator on a garment hanger is 
now accepted by retailers as a desirable addition to a garment hanger. The 
most widely accepted indicators have been manufactured by the applicant 
under Australian Patent No. 509042 (AU-B-42320/78 which corresponds to 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,322,902 to Lenthall) and Australian Patent No. 522614 
(AU-B-55988/80). While the indicator disclosed in Australian Patent No. 
509042 in particular has been well received by retailers in Australia, the 
desire of some retailers to reduce to a minimum the costs of hangers and 
indicators has meant that other manufacturers have developed less 
aesthetically pleasing alternatives to the indicator of the Australian 
Patent. In addition, differences in attitude have indicated that the "cap" 
indicator of Australian Patent No. 509042 may be regarded by some as being 
too bulky and dominant in the overall view of the hanger and the garments 
supported thereon. 
The automated manufacture of hangers with indicators is described in U.S. 
Pat. No. 5,272,806 assigned to the assignee of this invention, and the 
specification thereof is hereby incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,806 describes a low-profile molded plastics indicator 
for garment hangers which requires modification to the hook of the hanger 
to enable the indicator to be securely attached to the top of the hook 
where it is most visible. The improvements described in the above patent 
overcame the major disadvantages of indicators of the type described in 
our U.S. Pat. No. 4,322,902. The indicator according to U.S. Pat. No. 
5,272,806 is also designed to enable sorting into a predetermined 
orientation to enable automated handling and fitting of the indicators. 
For these reasons, the indicator has enjoyed considerable commercial 
success. 
Other indicators for hangers and hanger hooks for receiving indicators on 
disclosed are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,045,899 and German 
Offenlegangsschrift DE 3901086. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved 
hanger hook for receiving the indicator described in U.S. Pat. No. 
5,272,806. 
The invention therefore provides an improved hook design for receiving an 
indicator suitable for attachment to the hook of a molded plastic garment 
hanger, wherein the indicator comprises a body adapted to display indicia, 
and comprising side walls, end walls and a top wall dimensioned to form a 
body having a low generally rectangular profile and defining a downwardly 
opening cavity shaped and dimensioned to receive a narrow upwardly 
projecting web formed on a hook of a molded plastic garment hanger, said 
body having regions between at least said side walls and said top wall 
which are smoothly rounded while the lowermost edges of at least said side 
walls are substantially non-rounded to define relatively sharp edges at 
said lowermost edges, said end walls being spaced to engage in use spaced 
points on said web such that said indicator is in use stably supported on 
said web, said smoothly rounded portions and said sharp edges facilitating 
sorting of said indicators into a preferred orientation. 
In a preferred form, the cavity is formed with a centrally positioned means 
dimensioned and positioned to receive an abutment means formed on the 
upwardly projecting web of the hook of the hanger. In one form, at least 
one side of the body of the indicator defining the cavity is formed with 
an opening adapted to receive said abutment. In a particularly preferred 
form, each side of the body has an opening adapted to receive an abutment 
formed on either side of the web of the hanger hook. 
The invention also provides in combination, an indicator suitable for 
attachment to the hook of a molded plastic garment hanger, said indicator 
comprising a body adapted to display indicia and comprising side walls, 
end walls and a top wall dimensioned to form a body having a low generally 
rectangular profile and defining a downwardly opening cavity shaped and 
dimensioned to receive a narrow upwardly projecting web formed on a hook 
of a molded plastic garment hanger, said body having regions between at 
least said side walls and said top wall which are smoothly rounded while 
the lowermost edges of at least said side walls are substantially 
non-rounded to define relatively sharp edges at said lowermost edges, said 
end walls being spaced to engage in use spaced points on said web such 
that said indicator is in use stably supported on said web, said smoothly 
rounded portions and said sharp edges facilitating sorting of said 
indicators into a preferred orientation. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a garment hanger 
having a means capable of receiving and engaging a corresponding 
engagement point on an indicator. More particularly, the present invention 
also includes a garment hanger having an indexing cap for identifying at 
least one characteristic of the garment hanging therefrom wherein the 
garment hanger includes a hook adapted to engage a rod or other supporting 
means, and an upstanding flange extending from the hook for receiving one 
indexing cap, said flange extending and projecting above the top contour 
of the hook. The hanger of the present invention also includes a snap-fit 
engagement means defined by the upstanding flange, and a generally planar 
and stackable indexing cap having a recess formed therein for receiving 
the flange of the hanger therewithin. The indexing cap also defines a 
through opening which facilitates stacking the indexing cap in a bundle of 
stacked caps during transport, and which receives the snap fit engagement 
means when the indexing cap is attached to the hanger. 
In still another embodiment the upstanding flange is shaped and dimensioned 
to correspond substantially to the recess formed in the indexing cap. The 
upstanding flange defines a window opening and further includes a 
descending tongue capable of engaging an aperture formed in an indicator 
cap. The engagement means and upstanding flange of this embodiment are 
particularly adapted to prevent unintentional removal of the indicator cap 
from the hanger yet facilitate intentional removal of the indicator cap 
from hanger when the hanger is recycled or used with a garment of a 
different size. 
The hanger hook of the present invention is adapted to engage a rail or 
other supporting means to suspend the hanger and garment therefrom. The 
hook has an upstanding web which extends upwardly from the hook above the 
top contour of the hook which engages the rail or other supporting means. 
The web includes means to position and releasably secure the indicator to 
the hook to prevent the inadvertent release of the indicator in normal 
use. The releasable securing means permits the removal of the indicator 
for recycling of the hanger body and reuse with a new and appropriately 
coded indicator. 
The invention also provides the combination of a hanger having a hook with 
a narrow upwardly projecting web and an indicator as defined above 
engaging said web. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved indicator 
attachment mechanism which securely fastens an indicator to a hanger but 
which allows removal of the indicator in a simple operation which reduces 
the likelihood of damage to the indicator or to the hanger. 
The invention therefore also provides a molded plastics hanger hook having 
an improved indicator attachment device, said hanger having a hook formed 
with an upstanding web shaped to be received within a downwardly opening 
cavity of a molded plastics indicator, said indicator having side walls 
formed with at least one opening adapted to receive attachment means for 
retaining the indicator on said web of said hook, said attachment means 
comprising a resilient detent means formed in said upstanding web and 
having a laterally projecting portion positioned to engage said side wall 
opening to prevent removal of said indicator from said hook, said 
resilient detent means enabling said laterally projecting portion to be 
disengaged from said opening to facilitate removal of said indicator from 
said hook without damage to said indicator or to said hook. 
In use, the laterally projecting portion is disengaged from the side wall 
opening by inserting a probe through the side wall opening to displace the 
projecting portion from the opening to thereby release the indicator from 
the hook. 
The detent means preferably comprises a downwardly depending leg integrally 
molded within a molded opening in said web and resiliently connected to 
said web to enable deflection of said laterally projecting portion into 
the plane of the web to facilitate removal of the indicator from the web. 
In order that the invention may be more readily understood, embodiments of 
the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying 
drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to the drawings, and particularly FIGS. 1-4, the indicator 
embodying the invention will be seen to comprise a body 11 molded from 
suitable plastic material having spaced flat sides 12 and 13 defining 
therebetween a cavity 14 dimensioned to receive a top web 30 of the hook 
31 of a garment hanger, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings. The 
sides 12 and 13 are formed with generally rectangular slots 15 and 16 
centrally located adjacent the lower edges of the sides 12 and 13, and 
which are dimensioned and positioned to receive abutments 20a, 20b formed 
on either side of the web 30 of the hook 31 of the hanger to lock the 
indicator in position on the hook 31. The entry of abutments 20a, 20b into 
slots 15 and 16 is achieved by the resilience of the plastic molding 
forming the body 1. 
Each side 12 and 13 of the indicator 11 is formed with indicia 17, in the 
present embodiment, a sizing number such as 12. In the present case, the 
indicia 17 is formed by molded depressions in the sides 12 and 13, 
although the indicia may equally well be formed by molded raised portions 
or by adhesive label applied to the sides 12 and 13. If desired, styling 
grooves such as 18 may also be formed in or on the surface of the sides 12 
and 13. 
It will be appreciated from FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings that the width of 
the indicator body 11 is approximately the same as the width of the hook 
31 of the hanger, and the indicator has a relatively low narrow 
rectangular profile. Of course, shapes other than rectangular may be 
adopted, but it is considered desirable that the width of the indicator 
should not materially exceed the width of the hook of the hanger so that 
the indicator is not obtrusive in use. 
The indicator body is also formed with smoothly rounded edges, particularly 
at the upper most edges of the body, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. This 
feature allows the indicators to be sorted with the cavity directed 
downwardly by running the indicators along a narrow edge in the sorting 
machine (not shown) whereby the engagement between the rounded edges and 
the narrow edge cause an indicator engaging the edge in this manner to 
topple over so that its cavity is directed downwardly. 
The web 30 formed on the hook of the hanger 31 is shaped to provide 
engagement points between the ends 9 and 10 of the opening to the cavity 
14 and the top 19 of the cavity 4 when the indicator is fitted to the web 
30 to limit movement of the indicator on the hook 31. By the same token, 
the shape of the web 30 is not significantly different from a "normal" 
shape of hook 31 so the hanger can be used with or without the indicator. 
While the web shape shown in FIG. 4 is preferred, for stability, a more 
standard web shape will provide acceptable results since the ends 9 and 10 
of the opening to the cavity 14 of the indicator will still wedgingly 
engage the spaced edge portions of the web 30 to limit the amount of 
movement of the indicator even though the top of the web 30 does not 
contact the top 19 of the cavity 14. 
Of course, the web may be molded with an upwardly projecting generally 
rectangular portion (not shown) which substantially fills the cavity 14 to 
inhibit any significant movement of the indicator on the web 30 of the 
hook 31. Such an arrangement has the advantage of providing a rectangular 
surface on the hook for labels when the indicator is not used. 
Alternatively, the cavity 4 may be shaped to correspond to the exact shape 
of the web 30, although the net benefit of such an arrangement would not 
appear to outweigh the extra amount of plastic required for such a 
molding. 
It will be appreciated from the above description that an indicator 
installed on a hook embodying the invention provides an aesthetically 
acceptable indicator with only a minimal modification being required to 
the shape of the hook of the hanger to which the indicator is to be 
applied. The indicator presents a narrow profile which does not 
excessively modify the shape of the uppermost end of the hook of the 
hanger, while the hook itself may be used without the indicator since it 
is not significantly different in shape to other hooks. 
FIGS. 5-10 illustrate a second embodiment of the garment hanger and the 
indicator of the present invention. While the invention will be described 
and illustrated with respect to the hook of a single bra and panty hanger, 
it is understood that the invention is equally applicable to other types 
of garment hangers. 
As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the garment hanger is a bra and panty 
hanger 40 having bra hanger strap clips 32a, 32b and panty hanger clips 
33a, 33b arranged at either end of central support 34. The hanger presents 
a first side in FIG. 5 and the opposite side in FIG. 6 with the indicator 
11 positioned for attachment in FIG. 6. 
Hanger 40 also includes a hook member 31 having an upstanding flange 30 
(illustrated in FIG. 6) for receiving one of a plurality of different 
indicators, one of which is illustrated at 11 in FIGS. 5-10. The flange 30 
projects above the top contour of hook 31. A snap fit engagement means 
abutment 20 is defined on either side of the upstanding flange 30 as 
illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8. The index coded indicator 11 is generally 
planar and stackable and has a recess 14 formed therein (illustrated in 
FIG. 7) for receiving the upstanding flange 30 therewithin. The indicator 
11 defines a pair of apertures 15, 16 which define through opening 22 
(illustrated in FIGS. 5-7) which receives the snap fit engagement means 20 
when the indicator is fitted to the upstanding flange. This through 
opening may also be used to form a bundle of indicators or "stacked caps". 
The hook member further defines a horizontal flange 21 which cooperates 
with the snap fit engagement means 20a, 20b to engage the indicator in a 
wedging manner. The snap fit abutments 20a, 20b may also cooperate with 
the arcuate edges 9a, 10a of flange 30 to wedgingly engage the indicator 
11 as previously described with respect to FIG. 9. Edges 9a and 10b extend 
upwardly and inwardly in an angular fashion (as illustrated in FIG. 8) to 
assist in centering the cap for engagement of the snap fit engagement 
means 15, 16 and 20a, 20b. Hook member 31 also includes an inner flange 23 
which extends from the tip 31a of the hook to the intermediate frame 
member 34 to strengthen the hook and to provide a larger load bearing 
surface when the hanger engages a rod or other supporting means during 
use. Hook member 31 also includes a second reinforcing rib 24 which 
extends upwardly from control support member 34 to strengthen the hook and 
to resist twisting or flexure of the hook 31 when the garment hanger is in 
use. Central support member 34 includes upper and lower flanges 24, 25 and 
a center medial flange 26 which serve to stiffen the hanger. 
By choosing a relatively resilient plastic material for the hanger 40, and 
a relatively stiff plastic material for the indicator 11, the snap fit 
engagement can be made relatively permanent, since once the indicator is 
secured by snap fit engagement barbs 20a, 20b, it is necessary to bend or 
flex the side walls 12, 13 beyond barbs 20a, 20b before the indicator can 
be removed. The stiffness of the plastic material used to form the 
indicator thereby determines the degree of difficulty one encounters in 
removing it. Further, the fit and cooperation of the flat edge 11a of the 
indicator and the horizontal flange 21 make it difficult to insert a screw 
driver, or other means, with which to pry the side walls apart for removal 
of the indicator. 
As illustrated in FIGS. 5-10, the indicator includes several indexing 
features. The cap is color coded to denote a specific attribute of the 
garment suspended from the hanger. In addition, the indicator 11 carries 
on one side the legend 44 DD as illustrated on flat surface 26 to denote a 
bra size suspended from the hanger. On the opposite side of the cap, as 
illustrated at flat surface 27 in FIG. 6, a panty size "6" is indicated 
for a hypothetical bra and panty set. In this instance, the color coding 
can relate to a certain grade and quality of garment, a certain style of 
garment, or to visually reinforce one of the printed indicia such as cup 
size or panty size. This color attribute assists the purchaser in 
selecting the appropriate garment for his or her intended use. 
The indicator 11 is planar, having first and second planar sides 12, 13 
which facilitate stacking of the indicators for shipment as a bundle of 
"stacked caps". The bottom portion of the indicator 11a defines a flat 
edge, while the top edge 11b of the indicator may be rounded. The flat 
configuration 11a and rounded configuration 11b assist the sorting and 
stacking mechanism in a machine (not shown) which automatically aligns and 
stacks the indicators in a predetermined manner, as more fully described 
in U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,806, assigned the assignee of this application, the 
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herewith by reference thereto. 
As illustrated in FIG. 10, the top of the indicator 11b is unadorned in the 
preferred embodiment and as illustrated in FIG. 10, may be somewhat wider 
than the internal flange 23. It should be noted that as illustrated in 
FIG. 10, flanges 30 is not visible, and that horizontal flange 21 is 
substantially the same length as the indexing cap 11, and therefore not 
visible in FIG. 10. 
The garment hanger illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 also includes a center 
strengthening rib 26. The use of ribs 24-26 allow the central web of the 
hanger to be reduced in thickness and weight, thereby reducing the 
material cost for the hanger and the shipping cost during transit from the 
various remote manufacturing facilities to the United States. 
A third embodiment of the hanger of the present invention is depicted in 
FIGS. 11-16, which includes a hook 31, adapted to engage a rod or other 
supporting means, with an upwardly projecting web 31 extending upwardly 
above the top contour 31a of hook 31 that engages a rod or other 
supporting device. An aperture 35 is defined in said upwardly projecting 
web such that upwardly projecting web 30 completely surrounds aperture 35. 
Tongue 36 descends from an upper portion 38 of the upwardly projecting web 
into the aperture 35. 
Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12 of the drawings, a modified embodiment of the 
hook 31 of a molded plastics garment hanger is shown in simplified form 
and will in practice normally include the usual strengthening ribs 23a, 
23b around the perimeter of the hook. The hook 31 is formed with a 
flattened top region on rib 21 slightly larger in peripheral dimensions 
than the lowermost portion of an indicator 11 having side walls 12, 13 
formed with retention openings 15, 16, as described in our Australian Pat. 
No. 638436 and corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,354, the contents of 
which are incorporated into this specification by cross-reference thereto. 
An upstanding narrow web 30 extends centrally from the flattened top 
region 21 of the hook 11, and in this embodiment the web is shaped 
similarly to the shape of the cavity of the indicator 11 so as to 
comfortably fit within that cavity. Alternatively, the web 30 may be 
configured in the manner shown in Australian Patent No. 638436. 
The web 30 is formed with integrally molded indicator attachment means 36. 
In the present embodiment, the attachment means includes central opening 3 
defined in the upper portion of flange 30 with a resilient detent tongue 
36 which extends downwardly terminating in a laterally extending portion 
37 configured to engage one of the openings 15, 16 in the side walls 12, 
13 of the indicator 11, as shown in FIG. 14 of the drawings. Since the 
detent leg 37 is narrow and is resiliently connected to the web 31, it is 
easily able to be laterally deflected by means of a probe inserted in the 
opening 16 and engaging the portion 37 to displace the portion 37 towards 
the plane of the web 31 to clear the opening 16 and allow the indicator 11 
to be removed from the web 31. This operation can be achieved simply and 
quickly with little or no damage to the indicator 11 or to the attachment 
means 36. Nevertheless, while the laterally extending portion 37 remains 
in the position shown in FIG. 14 of the drawings, the indicator 11 will 
remain securely fastened to the web 31 and will withstand all usual 
handling operations to which the hanger is usually subjected in day-to-day 
use. 
Referring now to FIGS. 15 to 16 of the drawings, a modified embodiment of 
the invention is shown in which the same reference numerals are used to 
indicate similar parts. In this embodiment, the resilient detent leg 36 
also extends angularly from its point of attachment to the web 30, as 
shown most clearly in FIGS. 15 and 16 of the drawings, and has a shorter 
laterally extending portion 37 formed at its free end. The upstanding web 
30 of the hook 31 is further formed with a pair of ribs 38 on either side 
of the central semi-circular opening 35 to prevent the indicator 11 (not 
shown in FIG. 15) being inadvertently laterally displaced to clear the 
laterally extending portion 37 which engages the opening 16 in a manner 
similar to that shown in FIG. 14 of the drawings. FIG. 16 illustrates the 
hook 31 of the present invention in which rib 21 is integrally formed as 
part of the strengthening flange 23, which as illustrated in FIG. 16, 
extends around the perimeter of hook 31. The indicator 11 for the hook 
illustrated in FIG. 16 may also be formed with angled or sloping end walls 
to conform to the angularity of the hook design. 
The indicator attachment mechanisms described in the above embodiments 
provide a particularly simple and convenient means of retaining the 
indicator 11 on the web 30 of the hook 31 while enabling the indicator 11 
to be conveniently removed in a simple operation which does not 
significantly damage either the indicator 11 or the hook 31 of the hanger. 
In this way, the disadvantages associated with the attachment mechanism 
described in our Australian Patent No. 638436 are overcome in a simple but 
innovative manner. 
In the preferred embodiment, the improved hanger hook of the present 
invention is formed of styrene which provides a clear, virtually 
transparent hanger for maximum display of garments suspended therefrom. 
Alternately, the hanger could be formed from K resin, H.I. styrene and 
polypropylene or other suitable thermoplastics. 
While there have been shown and described what are considered to be the 
several preferred embodiments of the invention, it will, of course, be 
understood that various modifications and changes in form or detail can 
readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is 
therefore intended that the invention not be limited to the exact form and 
detail herein shown and described nor to anything less than the whole of 
the invention herein disclosed as hereinafter claimed.