A GARMENT HANGER ASSEMBLY

Abstract: A garment hanger assembly comprising a garment hanger arm (1) and a support cap (6); the hanger arm comprising a hanger portion (2) from which the garment hangers can be suspended; and, a connection portion (3) for connecting the hanger arm to a rail or post; the support cap (6) comprising first and second stabilising portions (10, 11) positioned on opposite sides of the garment hanger arm and being arranged to impede rotation of the hanger arm with respect to the rail or post; the first and second stabilising portions (10, 11) being connected together through at least one aperture (9) in the garment hanger arm (1).

Description: A Garment Hanger Assembly The present invention relates to a garment hanger t assembly comprising a support cap. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a garment hanger assembly comprising a support cap for impeding rotation or twisting of a hanger arm with respect to a rail. Garment retail outlets typically display garments on a rail one behind another. As an alternative to this some retail outlets provide rails which are either attached to the walls or free standing in the display area. Garment hanger arms are typically clipped or pivotally attached to these rails and extend orthogonally to them. The hangers and associated garments are then hung from these arms . Known hanger arms tend to wobble from side to side or twist with respect to the rail. In an effort to overcome this problem, metallic support bars are welded or mechanically fixed to the hanger arms in a plane orthogonal to the arm. In use, these support bars abut against the rail preventing the wobbling or twisting of the hanger arm. This welding or mechanical fixing of a support bar to the hanger arm greatly increases cost of manufacture of the hanger arm and also the time taken to produce it. Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a garment hanger assembly comprising a garment hanger arm and a support cap; the hanger arm comprising a hanger portion from which the garment hangers can be suspended and, a connection portion for connecting the hanger arm to a rail or post; the support cap comprising first and second stabilising portions positioned on opposite sides of the garment hanger arm and being arranged to impede rotation of the hanger arm with respect to the rail or post; the first and second stabilising portions being connected together through at least one aperture in the garment hanger arm. The garment hanger assembly according to the invention has the advantage that it inhibits wobble of the hanger arm with respect to the rail or post, but is also relatively inexpensive to construct . Preferably the support cap is arranged to prevent direct contact between the hanger arm an the rail or post . This prevents damage to the rail or post by the hanger arm. Preferably the cap is a plastics material, preferably a thermoplastics material, preferably glass filled nylon. The plastics material protects .both the hanger arm and also the rail or post. It is also relatively simple to manufacture a plastics support cap of the correct shape . The support cap can be although not necessarily a two component injection moulded construction. This enables the two parts of the end cap to be manufactured separately and then joined through the hanger arm. This reduces construction costs. The first and second stabilising portions can be ultrasonically welded together through the at least one aperture in the arm. This is a simple and reliable method of connecting the two parts of the support cap together. Preferably, the first and second stabilising portions each comprise a covering flange adapted so as to define, in combination, a separation surface for separating the hanger arm from the rail . Preferably the first and second covering flanges are ultrasonically welded together. In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of assembly of a garment hanger assembly, the garment hanger assembly comprising a garment hanger arm and a support cap; the hanger arm comprising a hanger portion from which garment hangers can be suspended; and, a connection portion for connecting the hanger arm to a rail or post; the support cap comprising first and second stabilising portions positioned on opposite sides of the garment hanger arm and being arranged to impede rotation of the hanger arm with respect to the rail or post; the first and second stabilising portions being connected together through at least one aperture in the garment hanger arm; the method comprising the steps of injection moulding the support cap as separate first and second stabilising portions; arranging the two stabilising portions on opposite sites of the hanger arm; and, connecting the first and second stabilising portions together through the at least one aperture in the garment hanger arm. Preferably the first and second stabilising portions are connected together by ultrasonic welding. Preferably the method further comprises the step of welding together first and second covering flanges to produce a separation surface for separating the hanger arm from the rail or post . ■ The present invention will now be described by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows a known rail or post and hanger arm assembly from above; Figure 2 shows an exploded view of a garment hanger assembly according to the invention; Figure 3 shows the garment hanger assembly of figure 2 in use; Figure 4 shows a hanger arm in the absence of the support cap; Figure 5 shows the end parts of the hanger arm and support cap; Figure 6 shows the method of assembly of the support cap; Figure 7 shows the arm and support cap attached to a rail. Figure 8 shows an, arm and the support cap from the front; Figure 9 shows the arm and support cap of figure 8 with one stabilising portion separated from the arm; and, Figure 10 shows a further support cap of a garment hanger assembly according to the invention. Figure 1 shows a known hanger arm (1) comprising a hanger portion (2) and a connection portion (3) . The connection portion (3) is attached to a bar or tube (4) . In use hangers are hung from the hanger portion to display garments. A support arm (5) is welded to the connection portion (3) and extends in a plane orthogonal to the hanger arm (1) . The support arm (5) J-s arranged such that when the hanger arm (1) is hung from the bar (4) the support arm (5) extends parallel to and against the bar (4) . This prevents the hanger arm (1) from pivoting with respect to the bar (4) . Welding support arm (5) to the hanger arm (1) greatly increases the cost of manufacture of the hanger arm (1) . The support arm (5) being of metal, tends to scratch or otherwise damage the bar (4) which can be aesthetically displeasing. Shown in Figure 2 is an exploded view of a hanger arm assembly according to the invention. The hanger arm assembly comprises a hanger arm (1) and a support cap (6) . i I The hanger arm (1) comprises * a hanger portion (2) and a connection portion (3) . The shape of the connection portion (3) is well known and comprises a hook arm (7) and an abutment arm (8) . In the absence of the support cap (6) the hook arm (7) is hooked over the top of the bar (4) and the hanger arm (1) is then pivoted in a vertical plane until the abutment arm (8) abuts against the bar (4) so maintaining the hanger arm (1) in place with respect to the bar (4) . Apertures (9) extend through the connection portion (3) . The hanger arm can be laser cut from a metal sheet . Other methods of production of the hanger arm are possible. The support cap (6) comprises first and second stabilising portions (10, 11) . Each stabilising portion (10, 11) has a cross section similar to the connection portion (3) and comprises a hook arm (12) and an abutment arm (13) . The first and second stabilising portions (10, 11) are separated by a gap (14) comparable to the thickness of the hanger arm (1) . The first and second portions (10, 11) are connected together by struts (15) . The support cap (6) is made from a nylon or similar material, preferably glass filled nylon. Shown in Figure 3 is the a'ssembled hanger arm assembly. The struts (15) extend through the apertures (9) maintaining the end cap (6) in fixed relation to the connection portion of the hanger arm (1) . The two stabilising portions locate and grip the opposites sides of the garment hanger arm (1) preventing twist of the hanger arm (1) with respect to the support cap. Each of the stabilising portions comprises a covering flange (16) . This is shown in greater detail in the following figures. When the support cap (6) is assembled the covering flanges (16) together define a separation surface (17) which in use separates the garment hanger arm from the rail . This prevents damage to the rail. In use the hook arm (12) of the cap (6) is hooked over and in contact with the bar (4) .; The assembly is then pivoted in a vertical plane until the abutment arms (13) abut against the bar (4) . The stabilising portions are arranged abut against the bar so preventing wobble and twist of the bar assembly with respect to the bar. In this embodiment the stabilising portions (10, 11) of the end cap (6) are rounded. This along with the fact that the caps are typically made of a plastic material prevents damage to the bar (4) . Shown in figure 4 is a hanget arm (1) comprising a hanger portion (2) and a connection portion (3) . The connection portion (3) comprises several apertures (9) through which the end cap (6) is connected. Shown in figure 5 is the end of the hanger arm of figure 4 connected to a first stabilising portion (10) of the end cap (6) . The hanger arm (12) and abutment arm (13) of the cap (6) cover the corresponding arms (7, 8) of the hanger arm (1) . A covering flange (16) extends between arms (12, 13) . Figure 6 shows the method of assembly of the cap (6) . The hanger arm (1) is not shown for convenience. The first stabilising portion (10) is aligned with the connection portion (3) of the hanger arm (1) and struts (15) inserted into the apertures (9) in the arm (1) . The second stabilising portion (11) is then aligned opposite, the first portion' (figure 6a) and then two portions urged together until they come into contact (figures 6b and 6c) . Once in contact the struts (15) are ultrasonically welded together, as are the covering flanges (16) . When welded together the covering flanges defind a separation surface (17) . The separation surface (17) and welded struts (15) are shown highlighted in figure 6d. Shown in figure 7 is the hanger arm (1) and cap (6) attached to a bar (4) . As can be seen, the hook arm (12) abutment arm (13) and separation surface (17) together separate the hanger arm (1) from the bar preventing damage to the bar (4) . Shown in Figure 8 is the support cap (6) attached to a further hanger , arm. Shown in Figure 9 is the support cap (6) and hanger arm of Figure 8 in exploded view. Figure 10 shows, in exploded view, a further embodiment of a support cap of a hanger arm assembly according to the invention. One portion of the cap comprises a plurality of struts which fit through apertures in the hanger arm. The other portion of the cap comprises a plurality of receiving sockets dimensioned to receive the struts and also to fit firmly through the apertures in the hanger arm. In use the second portion of the cap is aligned with the correcting portion of the hanger arm and the receiving sockets inserted into the apertures (9) . The struts are then inserted into the receiving apertures and the two portions ultrasonically welded together.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. ,A garment hanger assembly comprising a garment hanger arm and a support cap; the hanger arm comprising a hanger portion from which the garment hangers can be suspended; and, a connection portion for connecting the hanger arm to a rail or post; the support cap comprising first and second stabilising portions positioned on opposite sides of the garment hanger arm and being arranged to impede rotation of the hanger arm with respect to !:he rail or post; the first and second stabilising portions being connected together through at least one aperture in the garment hanger arm. 2. A garment hanger assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support cap is arranged to prevent direct contact between the hanger arm and the rail or post. 3. A garment hanger assembly as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the support cap is a plastics material, preferably a nylon filled plastics material. 4. A garment hanger assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the support cap is a two component injection moulded construction. 5. A garment hanger assembly as claimed in either of claims 3 or 4, wherein the first and second stabilising portions are ultrasonically welded together through the at least one aperture of the arm. 6. A method of assembly of a garment hanger assembly, the garment hanger assembly comprising a garment hanger arm and a support cap; the garment hanger arm comprising a hanger portion from which garment hangers can be suspended; and, a connection portion for 1 connecting the hanger arm to a rail or post; the support cap comprising first and second stabilising portions positioned on opposite sides of the garment hanger arm and being arranged to impede rotation of the hanger arm with respect to the rail or post; the first and second stabilising portions being connected together through an aperture in the garment hanger -arm; the method comprising the steps of injection moulding of the Support cap as separate first and second stabilising portions; arranging the two stabilising portions on opposite sides of the hanger arm; and connecting the first and second stabilising portions together through the at least one aperture in the garment hanger arm. 7. A garment hanger assembly substantially as hereinbefore described. 8. A garment hanger assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings . 9. A method of assembly substantially as hereinbefore described. 10. A method of assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings .

Inventors: CONSIDINE BRIAN, CONSIDINE, BRIAN
Applicants: CARDINAL SHOPFITTING & SYSTEMS, CONSIDINE BRIAN, CARDINAL SHOPFITTING & SYSTEMS LIMITED, CONSIDINE, BRIAN
Application year: 2001
Main classification: A47F7
IPC codes: A47F5, A47F7