Abstract:
A garment hanger for lingerie. The hanger includes a hook, an elongate body suspended below the hook and engaging members at the ends of the body. Each engaging member includes a one first leg flexibly connected at one end to the body and at the other end to a second leg. As a result the two legs and the body form an S-shape that acts as a spring to maintain tension in front display portion of the garment hung on the hanger. The engaging member also ensures that any excess material of the garment not forming part of the display portion is held out of view at the back.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a garment hanger, and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to a hanger for displaying lingerie in a retail outlet. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The use of hangers for displaying garments in retail outlets prior to purchase, is well known. Known garment hangers comprise a suspension member for suspending the hanger from a support, an elongate body connected to the suspension member, and at least one engaging member for releasably engaging a garment. 
         [0003]    However, known garment hangers provide a number of disadvantages. In particular, garments are often not engaged securely enough with the engaging members and as a result are susceptible to falling from the hanger and onto the floor of the retail outlet. This causes inconvenience to the retailer and often results in damage to stock. 
         [0004]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome or at least alleviate at least the above disadvantage of the prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a garment hanger comprising:—(i) a suspension member for suspending the hanger from a support; (ii) an elongate body connected to said suspension member; and (iii) engaging members adjacent respective ends of the body and adapted to releasably retain respective portions of a garment, 
         [0000]    wherein at least one said engaging member comprises:— 
         [0006]    at least one first leg flexibly connected to said body adjacent a first end of said first leg and extending at least partially away from said body; and 
         [0007]    at least one second leg flexibly connected to said first leg adjacent a second end of said first leg and extending at least partially away from said first leg and being disposed on an opposite side of said first leg to said body, 
         [0008]    said engaging member being adapted to engage said garment so that the garment engages said second leg and extends between at least one said first leg and the body. 
         [0009]    This provides the advantage that when a user engages a first portion of a garment with the second leg and then loops the garment around such that a second portion of the garment extends between the first leg and the body, and then pulls on the second portion of the garment in a direction towards the body, the first and second legs together perform as a spring and flex in a direction towards the body along with the second portion of the garment. This in turn reduces the size of the gap between the first leg and the body and thereby improve the grip on the garment. In having this configuration, the first and second legs are able to deflect more easily in the event that the second portion of the garment is pulled in a direction towards the body. In view of this, the garment is less likely to fall from the garment hanger and onto the floor of the retail outlet. 
         [0010]    Furthermore, the spring formed from the two legs maintains a small amount of tension in the garment as it is stretched across the hanger between the two engaging members. By tucking the second portion of the garment between the first leg and the body this also ensures that the second portion of the garment is held out of view of the customer when the hanger and garment are viewed from the front. Therefore, the greater length of excess material, resulting from putting a larger size material, resulting from putting a larger size on a hanger which will also fits a smaller size, does not interfere with the presentation of the front of the garment. As a result, the garment is attractively and consistently presented to the customer, irrespective of the garment size. 
         [0011]    Preferably, at least one said engaging member further comprises a third leg flexibly connected to said body adjacent said first end of said first leg and extending at least partially away from said body, said third leg being disposed on an opposite side of said second leg to said first leg. 
         [0012]    This provides the advantage that the garment may be releasably retained in a gap formed between the second and third legs, with the result that the garment is able to be more securely retained on the hanger. 
         [0013]    Preferably, said first leg and said third legs are flexibly connected to an upper part of said body when the hanger is suspended. 
         [0014]    This provides the advantage that the gap between the second and third legs and the gap between the body and the first leg both have downwardly extending openings when the hanger is suspended, thereby making it easier for a user to engage a garment with the hanger. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the first, second and third legs are disposed substantially parallel to each other when the garment is not engaged with the hanger. 
         [0016]    This provides the advantage that the garment is able to be more securely retained on the hanger, since an improved grip on the garment is provided. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the engaging member further comprises a fourth leg flexibly connected to said body and disposed substantially transversely to the first leg, said fourth leg being adapted to engage a garment so that the garment extends between the body and the fourth leg. 
         [0018]    This provides the advantage that a second garment, for example, a bra, can be additionally releasably engaged with the hanger. In particular, a first portion of the strap of a bra may be retained in the gap between the fourth leg and the body. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the engaging member further comprises a fifth leg flexibly connected to said body and disposed substantially transversely to the first leg, said fifth leg being adapted to engage a garment so that the garment extends between the body and the fifth leg. 
         [0020]    Preferably, the fourth leg is disposed on an upper part of the hanger when the hanger is suspended, and the fifth leg is disposed on a lower part of the hanger when the hanger is suspended. 
         [0021]    This provides the advantage that a second garment can be more securely engaged with the hanger. In particular, the strap of a bra may be retained in the gaps on both the upper and lower parts of the hanger. 
         [0022]    Preferably, the second and third legs each comprise a plurality of co-operating projections. 
         [0023]    This provides the advantage that the first portion of the garment may be more securely engaged between the second and third legs, even in the event that the first and second legs are deflected in a direction towards the body. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0024]    A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:— 
           [0025]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a hanger embodying the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  shows a front view of a part of the hanger of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  shows the part of the hanger shown in  FIG. 2  with a garment extending between the fourth leg and the body; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a part of the hanger of  FIG. 1  with a garment in a partially loaded condition; 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the part of the hanger of  FIG. 4 , with the garment in a loaded condition; 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  shows a front view of the hanger of  FIG. 1  with the garment in a partially loaded condition; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  shows a front view of the hanger shown in  FIG. 6 , with the garment in a loaded condition. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0032]    Referring to the Figures, a hanger is represented generally by reference numeral  101 . The hanger  101  comprises a body  103  and a suspension member in the form of a hook  105 . The body  103  has a central portion to which the hook  105  is attached, and portions  106   a  and  106   b  extending outwardly from the central portion on opposite sides thereof. At the distal extremity of each portion  106   a  and  106   b  are disposed respective engaging members  107   a  and  107   b.    
         [0033]    The engaging members  107   a  and  107   b  each comprise a first leg  109  and a second leg  111 . The first leg  109  is flexibly connected at a first end  110  to the body  103  by means of a linking member  112 . The first end  110  of the first leg  109  is an upper end when the hanger  101  is suspended. The second leg  111  is flexibly connected to the first leg  109  adjacent a second end  116  of the first leg  109 . As a result, the vertical surface of the body adjacent the first leg  109 , together with the first and second legs  109  and  111  form approximately into an S-shape. The second leg  111  extends at least partially away from the first leg  109  and the body  103 , and is disposed on an opposite side of the first leg  109  to the body  103 . 
         [0034]    The first  109  and second  111  legs and the body  103  are arranged such that there is a first gap  117  between the first leg  109  and the body  103 . The first gap  117  has an opening which extends downwardly when the hanger  101  is suspended. 
         [0035]    The engaging members  107   a  and  107   b  each further comprise a third leg  113  on an opposite side of the second leg  111  to the first leg  109 . The third leg  113  is flexibly connected to the body  103  adjacent the first end  110  of the first leg  109  and extends at least partially away from the body  103 . 
         [0036]    Between the second leg  111  and the third leg  113  is disposed a second gap  115  having its opening extending downwardly when the hanger  101  is suspended. A free end  123  of the second leg  111  is outwardly turned in order to facilitate loading of a garment between the second  111  and third  113  legs. 
         [0037]    The first  109  and second  111  legs are able to flex in the direction indicated by the arrows in  FIG. 5 , that is, in a direction towards the centre of the body  103 . 
         [0038]    The engaging members  107   a  and  107   b  each further comprise a fourth leg  125  which is flexibly connected at one end to the body  103  and which is disposed substantially transversely to the first leg  109 . The engaging members  107   a  and  107   b  each additionally comprise a fifth leg  127  which is flexibly connected at one end to the body  103  and which is disposed substantially transversely to the first leg  109  and below the fourth leg  125  when the hanger is suspended. The fourth leg  125  is connected to the body  103  adjacent the first end  110  of the first leg  109 , to form a third gap  129 . The fifth leg  127  is connected to the body  103  to form a fourth gap  131 , which is disposed below the third gap  129  when the hanger is suspended. The gaps  129  and  131  each have an opening extending in a direction towards the hook  105 , that is, towards the centre of the body  103 . 
         [0039]    In order to use the hanger  101 , a garment (which in the example shown is a pair of briefs) is laid across the hanger  101 . A first portion of the briefs is inserted into the second gap  115  between the second  111  and third  113  legs of the engaging member  107   a , as illustrated by  FIGS. 4 and 6  in particular. 
         [0040]    The user then loops an end portion, that is, a second portion, of the briefs around the second leg  111  such that the second portion of the briefs is inserted into the first gap  117  between the first  109  and second  111  legs, as illustrated by  FIGS. 5 and 7  in particular. 
         [0041]    The user then pulls on the second portion of the briefs, in a direction represented by the arrows in  FIG. 5 . In doing so, the second leg  111  flexes in a direction represented by the arrows in  FIG. 5  and urges the first leg  109  to pivot about its first end  110  in a direction towards the centre of the body  103 , thereby reducing the size of the first gap  117 . In this way, the first  109  and second  111  legs together perform as a spring, resulting in the first and second legs flexing sufficiently to result in a tighter grip being made on the briefs result in a tighter grip being made on the briefs. Furthermore the reduction in the first gap  117  also aids gripping of the briefs by pinching together the first leg  109  and the body  103  that have the second portion of the briefs extending between them. 
         [0042]    The user then repeats the steps described above for the other engaging member  107   b , with the result that the garment is securely engaged with both of the engaging members  107   a  and  107   b , as shown in  FIG. 7  in particular. When both sides of the briefs are loaded into the engaging member  107   a  and  107   b  the excess material at the sides of the brief can be pulled towards each other, that is towards the centre of the hanger. This partially stretches the briefs and pulls the first and second legs towards the centre of the hanger. When the user lets go of the briefs the spring effect of the first and second legs maintains a little tension in the front portion of the briefs which are presented to the customer. It should also be noted that by tucking the second portion of the briefs into the gap  117  this ensures that this excess material, that is material not stretched across the front of the hanger for display purposes, is held behind the hanger and out of view when presented to a customer. This also allows this hanger to be used on a greater variety of sizes of briefs since the hangers can be made so as to just fit the smallest size and for all larger sizes the excess material can be held behind the front display of the briefs on the hanger. This ability to provide a desirable forward presentation of the briefs is also accomplished without significantly increasing the volume of plastic used to form the hanger or having large functional and aesthetically undesirable features on the hanger making unsuitable for hanging just a bra. 
         [0043]    In order to additionally display a bra on the hanger  101 , a first portion of a strap of the bra is inserted into the third gap  129  between the fourth leg  125  of the engaging member  107   a  and the body  103 . A body  103 . A second portion of a strap of the bra is then inserted into the fourth gap  131  between the fifth leg of the engaging member  107   a  and the body. The same process with the other bra strap is repeated for the other engaging member  107   b , with the result that the bra is engaged with both of the engaging members  107   a  and  107   b.    
         [0044]    In this way, the hanger  101  can securely retain one or a plurality of garments, with less likelihood of the garments becoming accidentally detached from the hanger. The illustrated hanger is readily adaptable to moulding in one piece from plastics material and is therefore inexpensive in its construction. 
         [0045]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the above embodiment has been described by way of example only, and not in any limitative sense, and that various alterations and modifications are possible without departure from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.