DEVICE FOR HOLDING GARMENT HANGERS

Abstract: A device for holding garment hangers is described which has two parts: one preferably inflexible hook part made of plastics material or metal shaped to be carried by a rail, and a flexible loop or strap or series of loops, adapted to receive many garment hangers. The two parts are connected flexibly and the loop may be adjusted to alter its separation from a rail. The device allows more garments to be hung from a single rail than previously was possible and is particularly useful in the transport and storage of garments in shops, warehouses and factories. Two devices may be interlocked across a handler's shoulders.

Description: DEVICE FOR HOLDING GARMENT HANGERS DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to devices for holding garment hangers, particularly for hanging garments on a rail. The number of garments which can be hung on any one rail is traditionally limited by the bulk of the hangers used. The modern trend for shoulder pads in many garments also adds to the bulk and reduces the space available. According to the present invention, there is provided a device comprising a first part, preferably in the form of a hook, shaped and adapted to be carried by a rail, and a second part comprising a loop adapted to support a plurality of garment hangers so as to increase the number of hangers which can be carried by the rail. Preferably, the second part is flexibly connected to the first part and may itself be flexible and in the form of a strap and is adjustable to alter the separation of the loop from a rail carrying the first part. The flexible strap may comprise a plurality of loops. In one embodiment, the first part is a hook in the form of a closed loop for permanent attachment to a rail. Alternatively it comprises a latched element to resist inadvertent displacement from a rail. Preferably the first part is made of an inflexible, strong material such as a plastics material or metal. A device according to the invention is particularly useful in shops, warehouses and factories though it can also be used in domestic situations. It is also useful in the transport of garments, either carried by a rail in a van or to facilitate carrying many garments by hand. For example two devices may be interlocked across a handlers shoulder. The invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a device according to the invention; Figure 2 shows the device of Figure 1, in use, in perspective view. Figure 3 shows the device of Figure 1 in use on a rail together with traditional garment hangers; and Figure 4 shows two alternative embodiments of the device of the invention. The device 1 of Figure 1 has a hooked portion 2 made of rigid plastics material with a flexible strap 3 attached. The flexible strap forms a closed loop passing through hole 4 in hooked portion 2 and fastened with a rivet 5. The rivet 5 may alternatively be a latched fastening and may be adjustable to allow adjustment of the position of the loop relative to the hooked portion 2 and thus to a rail from which garments are to be hung. The loop could also be formed by stitching the strap. Figure 2 shows the device 1 hung on a rail 6 with several traditional garment hangers 7 supported in the loop of the strap 3. The advantage of the device 1 can be seen in Figure 3 where its use on rail 6, already crowded with traditional hangers 7, enables several (here five) more garment hangers 7 to be supported than would be possible without the device 1. Figure 4 shows two alternative embodiments of the device la and lb, each comprising three loops 8 for supporting yet more garment hangers than would traditionally be possible on rail 6. In device la, the loops 8 comprise separate sections of flexible strap riveted onto a length of strap 3 supported by hooked portion 2. In device lb, the loops 8 are formed by riveting together a double length of strap 3 at spaced locations. A device according to the invention is particularly versatile. For example, two devices can be attached together by the hooked portions and hung over a handler's shoulder enabling the handler to carry several garments in front and several behind yet still have his hands free. When the device 1 is used on a rail, a second rail can be hung below the first by insertion into loops of two spaced devices. Alternatively, the flexibility of the strap 3 enables the loops to be twisted so that a rail may be hung perpendicular to and between two parallel rails, for example in a van. The hooked portion may be an open hook as shown in the Figures or may be closed for permanent mounting on a rail, or may be latched to resist inadvertent detachment from the rail. The strap 3 is preferably made from a strong webbing material and could be made detachable from the hook portion so that worn straps could be periodically and easily replaced and/or washed. The looped portion for holding the garment hangers could alternatively be made of a solid plastics material.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A device for holding garment hangers, comprising a first part shaped and adapted to be carried by a rail, and a second part comprising a loop adapted to support a plurality of garment hangers so as to increase the number of hangers which can be carried by the rail. 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the second part is flexibly connected to the first part. 3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first part is in the form of a hook. 4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second part is flexible. 5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second part is in the form of a strap. 6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second part is adjustable to alter the separation of the loop from the first part. 7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second part comprises a plurality of loops. 8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first part is a hook in the form of a closed loop for permanent attachment to a rail. 9. A device according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the first part comprises latched element for resisting inadvertent displacement from a rail. 10. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the first part is made of an inflexible strong material. 11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the first part is made of a plastics material. 12. A device according to claim 10, wherein the first part is made of metal. 13. A method of hanging garments from a rail. comprising using a device according to any one of the preceding claims. 14. A method of hanging garments from a rail, comprising hanging two devices according to any one of claims 1-12, at spaced positions on a rail and suspending a second rail by means of the loops of the two spaced devices. AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 15 December 1993 ( 15.12.93) ; original claim 5 cancel led ; original claims 1 and 4 amended ; other claims unchanged (2 pages) ] 1. A device for holding garment hangers , comprising a first part shaped and adapted to be carried by a rail adjacent to garment hangers hung directly on the rail , and a second part comprising a loop in the form of a strap adapted to support a plurality of garment hangers at a position below and in an orientation substantially parallel to the garment hangers hung directly on the rail , so as to increase the number of hangers which can be carried by the rail . 2. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the second part is flexibly connected to the first part. 3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the first part is in the form of a hook. 4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims , wherein the second part is flexible and supports the garment hangers in an orientation substantially parallel to the garment hangers hung directly on the rail . 5. (Cancelled) 6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second part is adjustable to alter the separation of the loop from the first part. 7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second part comprises a plurality of loops. 8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first part is a hook in the form of a closed loop for permanent attachment to a rail. 9. A device according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the first part comprises latched element for resisting inadvertent displacement from a rail. 10. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the first part is made of an inflexible strong material. 11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the first part is made of a plastics material. 12. A device according to claim 10 , wherein the first part is made of metal . 13. A method of hanging garments f rom a rail , comprising using a device according to any one of t h e preceding claims . 14. A method of hanging garments f rom a rail , comprising hanging two devices according to any one of claims 1-12 , at spaced positions on a rail and suspending a second rail by means of the loops of the two spaced devices.

Inventors: ARTEMI PAUL, ARTEMI, PAUL
Applicants: ARTEMI PAUL, ARTEMI, PAUL
Application year: 1993
Main classification: A47G25
IPC codes: A47G25