Garment hanger system with size indicator

A garment hanger system including a hook member, a hanger body and an information indicator mounted on the hanger body. The hanger body includes a reinforcing rib section disposed adjacent a mounting structure that receives the hook member. The information indicator is adapted to mount around the hook member and detachably interlock with the reinforcing rib section. The information indicator includes one or more walls defining a top opening and a hollow cavity. Preferably, the end of the hook member passes through the top opening such that the indictor can slide down the hook member. The sidewalls of the indicator are preferably adapted, for example, with locking nibs, to detachably interlock to the reinforcing rib section of the hanger body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates broadly to garment hangers. More particularly, this invention relates to garment hangers with size indicators affixed thereto.

2. State of the Art

To accommodate garments supported by hangers in an orderly manner, it has become commonplace to affix an indicator (commonly referred to as a “sizer”) to the garment hanger. The indicator identifies some attribute of the supported garment which is typically the size, although quantity, color, or other attribute can be identified. To accommodate various types of hangers available in the industry, numerous indicators have been developed in a variety of sizes and shapes. In addition, to avoid the risk of injury to a child that may possibly tamper with the hanger and choke on the indicator, numerous mounting arrangements have been developed that are resistant to such tampering, yet provide for removal of the indicator and thus reuse of the hanger.

Most of the sizers actually utilized in the art are known as “top-sizers” or “side-sizers” and are provided in conjunction with plastic webs provided on plastic hangers. Top-sizers are typically used on hangers having integral plastic hooks with webs extending from the top of the hook as shown, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,354 to Marshall et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,437 to Zuckerman, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,276 to Marshall et al. Side-sizers, likewise are used on hangers having integral plastic hooks with the web extending between the plastic hook and the hanger cross-bar as shown, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,995 to Zuckerman, U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,746 to Gouldson, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,744 to Olk et al.

While it would also be desirable to provide sizers on hangers utilizing metal hooks, to date, commercially, such sizers have not been successful. Some such sizers have been proposed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,198,773 to Batts et al. discloses a sizer system for a hanger that has a header portion which receives a metal hook. An annular boss extends from the header portion of the hanger and receives the metal hook. The indicator (tally) is passed over the hook and fitted over the annular boss utilizing an interference fit. This interference fit enables the indicator to be removeably attached to the header portion to provide for reuse of the hanger. However, this interference fit is difficult to control and thus does not provide adequate resistance to tampering, and thus poses child-safety issues.

In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,887 to Bond et al. discloses a side-sizer system for a hanger that has a plastic body which receives a metal hook. A support post extends from the body and receives the metal hook. The size indicator is fitted over a mounting rib that extends between the top of the hanger body and the support post. The size indicator is removed by a special tool, and thus is resistant to child tampering yet provides for reuse of the hanger. However, the structure of the mounting rib, which extends from the top of the hanger body to the support post, is not part of existing standard-type hanger designs, is relatively complex and difficult to mold, and thus adds significant manufacturing costs to the hanger assembly.

Thus, there remains a need in the art to provide an indicator for a standard-type wire hook garment hanger where the indicator is inexpensive to manufacture, and also provides resistance to child tampering while allowing for removal of the indicator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a garment hanger system with an indicator that is inexpensive to manufacture.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a garment hanger system that does not require complex structures that are difficult to mold.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a garment hanger system that provides resistance to child tampering while allowing for removal of the indicator and thus reuse of the hanger.

It is also an object of the invention to provide such a garment hanger system wherein the indicator can be removed by manual finger pressure.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide such a garment hanger system in which the indicator attaches to the hanger at its midpoint.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive indicator for a standard-type wire hook garment hanger where the indicator is resistant to child tampering.

In accord with these objects, which will be discussed in detail below, a garment hanger system includes a hook member, a hanger body, and an information indicator mounted on the hanger body. The hanger body is a standard-type hanger body which includes a reinforcing rib section disposed adjacent a mounting structure that receives a metal hook member. The information indicator is adapted to mount around the hook member and detachably interlock with the reinforcing rib section.

The mechanism that interlocks the indicator to the hanger body in accordance with the present invention is simple to use and very inexpensive to manufacture. It also can be effectively utilized with existing hanger designs.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the information indicator includes a top wall defining a top opening, and at least two sidewalls projecting from the top wall in order to form a hollow cavity therebetween. The sidewalls of the information indicator are adapted (for example, with locking nibs) to detachably interlock to the reinforcing rib section of the hanger body. In this configuration, the opening in the top wall is sized to permit the end of the hook member to pass therethrough such that the indictor can slide down the hook member and interlock with the reinforcing rib section of the hanger body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning now toFIG. 1, there is shown a garment hanger system10in accordance with the present invention, which includes a hanger body12that is generally planar and has a transverse reinforcing rib14around its periphery to thereby form an I-beam type construction. The hanger body12is preferably molded from a thermoplastic material (e.g., K-resin, styrene, polypropylene or other suitable thermoplastic) and has a support post16that extends from a section18of the reinforcing rib14that is disposed at the top of the hanger body12near its midpoint as shown. Preferably, the support post16includes angled support structures20A,20B and a tubular support structure22that extends from the reinforcing rib section18as shown. The support post structure16receives a hook24. Preferably, the hook24is metal and is supported by the support post structure16such that it can swivel in a conventional manner without being detachable from the hanger body. Alternatively, the hook24may be plastic or other suitable material and may possibly be integrally formed with the hanger body.

As seen inFIGS. 1-5, the hanger body12has a length and a width, with the reinforcing rib14running lengthwise along the top of the hanger body. As seen best inFIG. 3, the width of the reinforcing rib14is wider than the width of the body.

A sizer26is provided that has a top wall28and four sidewalls30A,30B,30C,30D which extend in perpendicular manner from the edges of the top wall to form a hollow cavity31therebetween as best shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. The top wall28has a through-opening32that is sized to allow the hook24to pass through it such that the sizer can slide down the hook as shown inFIG. 1. The exterior surface of one or more of the four sidewalls carries the information (e.g., some attribute of the supported garment, such as the size “S” for small as shown on the wall30C, quantity, color, etc). Two of the sidewalls30A,30B extend in a parallel fashion and have respective widths that substantially correspond to the width of the reinforcing rib section18as best shown inFIG. 2. The other two sidewalls30C,30D extend in a parallel fashion along a plane perpendicular to the planes of the sidewalls30A,30B. The interior surfaces36of the two sidewalls30C,30D have locking nibs38A,38B (e.g., a projection) as shown inFIG. 3.

As shown inFIGS. 1-3, the sizer26is passed over the end of the hook24and down the length of the hook24. The sizer26is then positioned such that the locking nibs38A,38B pass over and detachably interlock with the opposing sides40A,40B of the rib section18of the hanger body12as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5.

Preferably, the sizer32is detached from the rib section18by manual finger pressure that forces one or more of the sidewalls outward away from the rib section18and upward toward the metal hook as shown by the dotted arrows42A,42B inFIG. 5. In the embodiment shown, when the sizer32is twisted, the curved bottom surface of the sidewalls30A,30C acts as an inclined ramp which causes the sizer to move upward and at the same time slightly spreading the sidewalls30A,30C away from one another. This action allows the interlocking nibs38A,38B to disengage from the rib section18of the hanger body. The size of the locking nibs38A,38B and/or the flexibility of the sizer26are adapted such that the manual finger pressure required for removal of the sizer26is difficult to achieve. In this manner, the sizer26is made resistant to child tampering.

Preferably, the travel of the locking nibs38A,38B with respect to the rib section18is controlled by a stop surface that is part of the sizer26. In this manner, the locking nibs38A,38B can be controlled to rest near (or up against) the rib section18in the interlocked position as shown inFIG. 5. In the configuration shown, the stop surface is provided by the sidewalls30A,30B whereby the bottoms of the sidewalls30A,30B contact the top of the rib section18. In this configuration, the vertical offset between the bottom of the sidewalls30A,309B and the locking nibs308A,38B is selected such that the nibs rest near (or up against) the rib section18in the interlocked position (FIG. 5).

Alternatively, the stop surface may be provided by the support post. For example, the stop surface may be provided by the angled supports20A,20B (FIG. 1) whereby the bottom side of the top wall28of the sizer26contacts the angled supports20A,20B. In this configuration, the distance between the bottom side of the top wall28and the locking nibs38A,38B of the sizer corresponds to the distance between the stop surface (which is part of the angled supports) and the rib section18of the hanger body12such that the nibs rest near (or up against) the rib section in the interlocked position (FIG. 5).

Preferably, the sizer26is formed by injection molding a thermoplastic material. The opening32in the top wall28may be formed as part of the mold or subsequent thereto by drilling, by punching the top wall28while the thermoplastic material is semi-molten, or by other suitable means.

Advantageously, the innovative mechanism that interlocks the indicator to the hanger body as described herein is simple to use and very inexpensive to manufacture. It also can be used in conjunction with standard-type hangers already common in the art.

Turning now toFIGS. 6 and 7, a second embodiment of a sizer126in accordance with the present invention is seen. Sizer126includes four sidewalls130A,130B,130C,130D which define between them a hollow cavity131which leads to a rectangular top opening132. The top opening is sized to allow a hook to pass through it such that the sizer can be slid over the end of the hook and down the hook to the hanger body. The exterior surface of one or more of the four sidewalls carries size or other information. Two of the sidewalls130C,130D extend in a parallel fashion and are spaced apart (by sidewalls130A and130B) to substantially correspond to the width of the reinforcing rib section of the hanger. Sidewalls130C and130D taper in length as they extend downward (i.e., length of sidewalls130C and130D is larger at the bottom than at the top). The other two sidewalls130A,130B preferably extend in a non-parallel fashion relative to each other such that at least a portion of the sidewalls130A,130B is preferably angled at an angle similar to angled support structures20A,20B. However, sidewalls130A,130B are preferably generally perpendicular to the planes of the sidewalls130C,130D. Thus, a cross-section through the four walls of the sizer126generally provides a rectangle; although if desired, the sidewalls130A,130B can be bowed such that a cross-section would be oblong.

As seen inFIG. 7, the interior surfaces136of the two sidewalls130C,130D have locking nibs138A,138B (e.g., a projection). Sizer126is arranged such that when the locking nibs138A,138B are locked to the reinforcing rib section of the hanger, the tops of the sidewalls extend above the tubular support structure for the metal hook.

As with the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-5, the travel of the locking nibs138A,138B with respect to the rib section of the hanger body is controlled by a stop surface that is part of the sizer126. In this manner, the locking nibs138A,138B can be controlled to rest near (or up against) the rib section in an interlocked position. In one arrangement, the stop surface is provided by the sidewalls130A,30B whereby the bottoms148of the sidewalls130A,130B contact the top of the rib section. In this configuration, the vertical offset between the bottom148of the sidewalls130A,130B and the locking nibs138A,138B is selected such that the nibs rest near (or up against) the rib section in the interlocked position. Alternatively, although less preferred, the stop surface may be provided by the support post itself. For example, the stop surface may be provided by the top of post16(FIG. 1) whereby the inside of the angled walls130C,130D contact the top of post16at or near the opening132.

Preferably, the sizer126is formed by injection molding a thermoplastic material.

Turning now toFIGS. 8 and 9, a third embodiment of a sizer226in accordance with the present invention is seen. Sizer226includes three sidewalls230A,230B,230C and a top wall230D. The top wall230D has an extension that defines an opening231which is sized such that the sizer can be slid over the end of the hook and down the hook to the hanger body. The sidewalls and the top wall define between them a cavity231which opens to the top opening132. Two of the sidewalls230A,230C extend in a parallel fashion and are spaced apart (by sidewall230B) to substantially correspond to the width of the reinforcing rib section18of the hanger.

Preferably, the two sidewalls230A and230C extend at an angle relative to the support post16of the hanger body such that sizer226is disposed to the side of the support post16as shown. Alternatively, the two sidewalls230A,230C may be adapted to surround the support post16.

As seen inFIG. 9, the interior surfaces236of the two sidewalls230A,230C have locking nibs238A,238B (e.g., a projection). Sizer226is arranged such that when the locking nibs238A,238B are locked to the reinforcing rib section of the hanger, the top wall230D is positioned above the tubular support post16for the metal hook. Also, as seen inFIG. 9, the interior surfaces236of the two sidewalls230A,230C have ribs239A,239B which extend along a direction substantially parallel to the top wall230D and act as stabilizers. These stabilizing ribs239A,239B contact one of the support structures (e.g.,20B) and prevents otherwise easy removal of the sizer simply by squeezing the sidewalls230A,230B to release the locking nibs.

As with the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-5, the travel of the locking nibs238A,238B with respect to the rib section of the hanger body is controlled by a stop surface that is part of the sizer226. In this manner, the locking nibs238A,238B can be controlled to rest near (or up against) the rib section in an interlocked position. In one arrangement, the stop surface is provided by the sidewall230B whereby the bottom248of the sidewall230B contacts the top of the rib section. In this configuration, the vertical offset between the bottom248of the sidewall230B and the locking nibs238A,238B is selected such that the nibs rest near (or up against) the rib section in the interlocked position. Alternatively, although less preferred, the stop surface may be provided by the support post itself. For example, the stop surface may be provided by the top of post16(FIG. 8) where it contacts the top wall230D of the sizer226at or near the opening132.

Preferably, the sizer226is formed by injection molding a thermoplastic material.

There have been described and illustrated herein several embodiments of a garment hanger system with a size indicator. While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto, as it is intended that the invention be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Thus, while particular projection-based interlocking mechanisms have been disclosed, it will be appreciated that other types of interlocking mechanisms, such as barbs, ridges, snap-fit constructs, or other suitable internal constructs, can be used as well. In addition, while a particular type of hanger body has been disclosed, it will be understood other hanger body types, such as clamp-type hanger body types, can be used. Also, while it is preferred that the sizer be slid over the end of the hook through an opening in sizer, it will be recognized that the sizer can readily be adapted such it has a lengthwise slot that allows for insertion of the hook therein. In this configuration, the sizer is installed by inserting the hook into the lengthwise slot. Also, while removal of the sizer by manual finger pressure is preferred, it will be recognized that a tool can be used to assist in disengaging the locking mechanism that holds the sizer in place. Moreover, while particular geometries, shapes and configurations have been disclosed in reference to the hanger body and the sizer, it will be appreciated that other configurations could be used as well. In addition, while the sizer(s) described herein may be singularly provided with a hanger body, it will be appreciated that the sizer may be pre-mounted on the hanger body for sale to a retailer, and sets of sizers and one or more hanger bodies may be sold as a kit. It will therefore be appreciated by those skilled in the art that yet other modifications could be made to the provided invention without deviating from its spirit and scope as claimed.