Indicator and garment hanger

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. Furthermore, since the hook of the hanger must be 
specially formed to accept this indicator, its use without the indicator 
may be regarded by some as aesthetically or commercially unacceptable. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
One object of the present invention is to provide a less costly and less 
obtrusive alternative to the cap indicator described in Patent No. 509042. 
The invention therefore provides 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 and end walls 
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 a top 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 means on 
an indicating means. 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.

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 1 molded from 
suitable plastic material having spaced flat sides 2 and 3 defining 
therebetween a cavity 4 dimensioned to receive a top web W of the hook H 
of a garment hanger, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings. The sides 
2 and 3 are formed with generally rectangular slots 5 and 6 centrally 
located adjacent the lower edges of the sides 2 and 3, and which are 
dimensioned and positioned to receive abutments A formed on either side of 
the web W of the hook H of the hanger to lock the indicator in position on 
the hook H. The entry of abutments A into slots 5 and 6 is achieved by the 
resilience of the plastic molding forming the body 1. 
Each side 2 and 3 of the indicator 1 is formed with indicia 7, in the 
present embodiment, a sizing number such as 12. In the present case, the 
indicia 7 is formed by molded depressions in the sides 2 and 3, although 
the indicia may equally well be formed by molded raised portions or by 
adhesive label applied to the sides 2 and 3. If desired, styling grooves 
such as 8 may also be formed in or on the surface of the sides 2 and 3. 
It will be appreciated from FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings that the width of 
the indicator body 1 is approximately the same as the width of the hook H 
of the hanger, and the indicator has a relatively low narrow rectangular 
profile, both of which features contribute to the indicator being less 
obtrusive than indicators of the type described in Australian Patent No. 
509042. 0f 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 less 
obtrusive in use. 
The indicator body may also be formed with smoothly rounded edges, 
particularly at the upper most edges of the body, as shown in FIG. 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 W formed on the hook of the hanger H is shaped to provide 
engagement points between the ends 9 and 10 of the opening to the cavity 4 
and the top 11 of the cavity 4 when the indicator is fitted to the web W 
to limit movement of the indicator on the hook H. By the same token, the 
shape of the web W is not significantly different from a "normal" shape 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 4 of the indicator will still engage spaced 
edge portions of the web W to limit the amount of movement of the 
indicator even though the top of the web W does not contact the top 11 of 
the cavity 4. In either event, the web is significantly less obtrusive 
than the modified hook shape required in the case of the indicator of 
Australian Patent No. 509042. 
Of course, the web may be molded with an upwardly projecting generally 
rectangular portion (not shown) which substantially fills the cavity 4 to 
inhibit any significant movement of the indicator on the web W of the hook 
H. 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 shape of the 
web W, 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 the indicator 
embodying the invention provides an aesthetically acceptable alternative 
to the indicator disclosed in Australian Patent No. 509042 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. 
The indicators embodying the invention also lend themselves to automated 
application techniques which are assisted by the rounded upper edges of 
the indicator, as described in greater detail above. 
FIGS. 5-10 illustrate a second embodiment of the garment hanger and the 
index coded cap of the present invention. While the invention will be 
described and illustrated with respect to 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 having bra hanger strap clips 12a, 12b and panty hanger clips 13a, 
13b arranged at either end of central support 14. The hanger presents a 
first side in FIG. 5 and the opposite side in FIG. 6 with the indexing cap 
positioned for attachment in FIG. 6. 
The hanger also includes a hook member 15 having an upstanding flange 16 
(illustrated in FIG. 6) for receiving one of a plurality of different 
indexing caps, one of which is illustrated at 17 in FIGS. 5-10. The flange 
16 projects above the top contour of hook 15. A snap fit engagement means 
18 is defined on the upstanding flange 16 as illustrated in FIG. 6. The 
index coded cap 17 is generally planar and stackable and has a recess 19 
formed therein (illustrated in FIG. 7) for receiving the upstanding flange 
16 therewithin. The indexing cap 17 defines a through opening 20 
(illustrated in FIGS. 5-7) which receives the snap fit engagement means 18 
when the indexing cap is fitted to the upstanding flange. This through 
opening is also used to form a bundle of stacked caps. The hook member 
further defines a horizontal flange 21 which cooperates with the snap fit 
engagement means 18 and a first edge 16a and a second edge 16b of flange 
16 to engage the recess 19 defined within index cap in a wedging manner. 
Edges 16a and 16b 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 18. Hook member 15 also includes an inner 
flange 22 which extends from the tip 15a of the hook to the intermediate 
frame member 14 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 15 also includes a second reinforcing rib 23 which 
extends upwardly from control support member 14 to strengthen the hook and 
to resist twisting or flexure of the hook 15 when the garment hanger is in 
use. Flanges 22, 23 join with similarly defined upper flange 24, defined 
by central support member 14. Central support member 14 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 11, and 
a relatively stiff plastic material for the cap, the snap fit engagement 
can be made relatively permanent, since once the index coded cap is 
secured snap fit engagement barbs 18, it is necessary to bend or flex the 
side walls 17a, 17b beyond barbs 18 before the cap can be removed. The 
stiffness of the plastic material used to form the cap thereby determines 
the degree of difficulty one encounters in removing the cap. Further, the 
fit and cooperation of the flat edge 17c of the cap 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 cap. 
As illustrated in FIGS. 5-10, the indexing cap includes several indexing 
features. The cap is color coded to denote a specific attribute of the 
garment suspended from the hanger. In addition, the indexing cap 17 
carries on one side the legend 44 DD as illustrated at 26 to denote a bra 
size suspended from the hanger. On the opposite side of the cap, as 
illustrated at 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 indexing cap 17 is planar, having first and second planar sides 17a, 
17b which facilitate stacking of the caps for shipment as a bundle of 
stacked caps. The bottom portion of the cap 17c defines a flat edge, while 
the top edge 17d of the cap is rounded. The flat configuration 17c and 
rounded configuration 17d assist the sorting and stacking mechanism in a 
machine (not shown) which automatically aligns and stacks caps in a 
predetermined manner. 
As illustrated in FIG. 10, the top of the indexing cap 17d is unadorned in 
the preferred embodiment and is somewhat wider than the internal flange 
15a and 15b. It should be noted that as illustrated in FIG. 10, flanges 22 
and 23 are not visible, and that horizontal flange 21 is substantially the 
same length as the indexing cap 17, 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 22-26 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. 
In the preferred embodiment, the hanger 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 
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.