Abstract:
In a lightweight and environmentally friendly intimate apparel hanger, through openings are formed in a web of the hanger body. The openings are formed symmetrically or asymmetrically relative to a center point of the body in the web. The provision of the openings reduces the total weight of the hanger and the raw material used to mold the hanger. The manufacturing and transportation costs of the hanger are also reduced, which provide a market advantage to the manufacturer, transporter and retailer of the hangers.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), this application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/149,914 filed Feb. 4, 2009, entitled “LIGHTWEIGHT ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY INTIMATE APPAREL HANGER”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to molded plastic garment hangers as are widely used for the purpose of shipping and displaying garments. More specifically, the present invention relates to a lightweight one-piece intimate apparel hanger with an improved hanger body, which consumes less material and less energy for processing the material as compared to the existing intimate apparel hangers, and without compromising the structural integrity and mechanical performance of the hanger. The intimate apparel hanger according to the present invention is environmentally advantageous. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    In the area of retail garment sales, so-called Garment-On-Hanger (GOH) programs have become preferred by retailers. In a GOH program, garments are delivered to retail merchants already suspended from hangers, where upon arrival at the retail location the garments are immediately placed on display for sale. Those hangers are normally plastic molded hangers as widely used for the purpose of shipping and displaying garments. 
         [0006]    In particular, retailers have specified particular hangers or hanger characteristics among their several suppliers in order to achieve a uniformity on their sales floors. To this end, standards as to hanger size, shape, performance characteristics, etc., are maintained, for example, by organizations such as the Voluntary Inter-industry Commerce Standards Association (VICS). Intimate apparel hangers are one of the standardized hangers under the VIC S standards. 
         [0007]    With the continuing consumption of the natural resources, it is popular and necessary in the manufacturing industry to optimize the product design to save materials and energy and concomitantly reduce the manufacturing and transportation costs, without compromising performance. The resultant product under such a material and energy saving concept is recognized as an environmentally friendly product, and is much more market competitive than its prior art counterpart. In the intimate apparel hanger molding industry, millions of plastic intimate apparel hangers are manufactured each year. Thus, an environmentally friendly intimate apparel hanger would provide a significant commercial advantage to the manufacturer, transporter and retailer in the industry. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, there is a need for a novel intimate apparel hanger that uses less material for manufacturing and still maintains its structural integrity and mechanical performance to satisfy the industry standards, for example, the VICS standards. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, there is a need for a novel intimate apparel hanger that is lightweight and easy to handle while still maintaining the performance of the hanger. 
         [0010]    Accordingly, there is a need for a novel intimate apparel hanger that effectively reduces manufacturing and transportation costs and uses less material to enhance the environment. 
         [0011]    Accordingly, there is a need for a novel intimate apparel hanger made from less material while still maintaining performance and compatibility with the existing racks and shelves. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    Therefore, in order to overcome certain deficiencies of the prior art, provided according to the present invention is a lightweight intimate apparel hanger, which reduces the manufacturing and transportation costs of the hanger and is environmentally friendly. The hanger includes a hook member and a body connected to the hook substantially at a lower neck region of the hanger. The body includes a first arm extending from a center point of the body to a first end of the body and a second arm extending oppositely from the center point to a second end of the body. The hanger further includes a first composite garment retaining clip connected to the first end of the body and a second composite garment retaining clip connected to the second end of the body. The body further includes an upper flange and a lower flange and a web connecting the upper flange and the lower flange. The web includes at least one through opening formed therein. 
         [0013]    In at least one embodiment, the web includes at least two through openings formed therein, which are substantially symmetrical to one another relative to the center point. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment, the web includes at least one first through opening formed in the first arm and at least one second through opening formed in the second arm. Preferably, the at least one first through opening and the at least one second through opening are substantially symmetrical to one another relative to the center point. 
         [0015]    In yet another embodiment, the web includes a first group of five through openings formed in the first arm and a second group of five through openings formed in the second arm, each one opening of the first group substantially symmetrical to a respective one opening in the second group. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the total area of the first and second groups of through openings accounts for 10% to 95% of the total area of the web. More preferably, the total area of the first and second groups of through openings accounts for 80% of the total area of the web. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the ratio of the total weight of the intimate apparel hanger according to the embodiment of the present invention to the prior art intimate apparel hanger of same dimensions is within the range of 75-85%. In other words, compared to the prior art intimate apparel hanger, the total weight reduction achieved by the embodiment of the present invention is about 15-25%. 
         [0018]    Preferably, the total weight reduction of the intimate hanger according to the embodiment of the present invention is about 2-3 grams by weight of a standard intimate apparel hanger in the industry, such as a GS19 hanger, satisfying the VICS standards. 
         [0019]    In one embodiment, the upper flange, the lower flange and the web form a C-section-shaped cross section of the body. In another embodiment, the lower flange and the web form an I beam-shaped cross section of the body. 
         [0020]    In one embodiment, the hanger further includes a lower neck indicator attached to the lower neck region of the hanger for displaying indicia, such as size. 
         [0021]    In another embodiment, the hook member includes a fixture formed substantially at the top of the hook member, and the hanger further includes a top indicator attached to the fixture of the hook member for displaying indicia. 
         [0022]    In one embodiment, the first composite clip includes a first vertical garment retaining clip, a first lower garment retaining clip disposed under the body, and a first upper garment retaining clip disposed above the body. 
         [0023]    In another embodiment, the second composite clip comprises a second vertical garment retaining clip, a second lower garment retaining clip disposed under the body, and a second upper garment retaining clip disposed above the body. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]    These and other features, aspects and benefits of the present invention will be made apparent with reference to the following specification and accompanying drawings, where like reference numerals refer to like features across the several views, and wherein: 
           [0025]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of a prior art intimate apparel hanger; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  illustrates a front view of a lightweight intimate apparel hanger according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  illustrates a sectional view of the intimate apparel hanger in  FIG. 2  along lines  3 - 3 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  illustrates a sectional view of another embodiment of the intimate apparel hanger in  FIG. 2  along lines  3 - 3 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  illustrates a partial front view of yet another embodiment of the intimate apparel hanger in  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  illustrates a partial front view of still another embodiment of the intimate apparel hanger in  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , illustrated is an intimate garment hanger  100  as is known in the art. The hanger has a hook member  200 , a body  300  connected to the hook  200 , and a pair of opposite clips  400  and  500  attached to the ends of the body  300 , respectively. The body  300  generally includes a pair of opposite flanges  320  and  340  connected by a planar web  360 , thereby providing a solid material configuration to meet the VICS standards, for example, with respect to the dimensions and mechanical performance of the hanger. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , illustrated is an exemplary embodiment of an intimate garment hanger according to the present invention, identified by numeral  10 . The intimate apparel hanger  10  generally includes a hook member  12  and a body  14  connected to the hook member at a lower neck region  16  of the hanger. The body  14  is substantially an elongated body, which extends along the axis X defined in the three-dimensional coordinate system shown in  FIG. 2 . The hook member  12  substantially extends upwardly from the body  14 , along the X-axis defined in the coordinate system. 
         [0033]    The elongated body  14  further defines a center point C, from which the body  14  extends away from the hook  12  to provide a pair of arms for suspending intimate apparel. Preferably, the elongated body  14  is substantially symmetrical relative to the center point C. 
         [0034]    In  FIG. 2 , the body  14  includes a first arm  18  extending from the center point C away from the hook member  12  to a first end  22  of the body  14 . The body further includes an opposite second arm  20  extending from the center point C away from the hook  12  to a second end  24  of the body  14 . Preferably, the first arm  18  and the second arm  20  are structurally symmetrical to each other relative to the center point C. 
         [0035]    The intimate apparel hanger  10  includes at least one garment retaining clip for holding intimate apparel during the shipping and displaying of the intimate apparel. In the shown embodiment, the hanger  10  includes a first composite garment retaining clip  26  connected to the first end  22  at the distal end of the first arm  18  of the body  14  and a second composite garment retaining clip  28  connected to the second end  24  at the distal end of the second arm  20  of the body  14 . 
         [0036]    The composite clips  26  and  28  can assume any configuration suitable for holding intimate apparel. In the shown embodiment, the first composite clip  26  includes a first vertical garment retaining clip  30 , attached to the first end  22  of the body  14  and disposed distally of the first arm  18 . The first composite clip  26  includes a first lower garment retaining clip  32  attached to the first end  22  of the body  14 , extending inwardly under the body  14  from the first end  22  toward the center point C. The first composite clip  26  further includes a first upper garment retaining clip  34  attached to the first end  22  of the body  14 , extending inwardly above the body  14  from the first end  22  toward the center point C. 
         [0037]    In  FIG. 2 , the second composite clip  28  includes a second vertical garment retaining clip  36 , attached to the second end  24  of the body  14  and disposed distally of the second arm  20 . The second composite clip  28  further includes a second lower garment retaining clip  38  attached to the second end  24  of the body  14 , extending inwardly under the body  14  from the second end  24  toward the center point C. The second composite clip  28  further includes a second upper garment retaining clip  40  attached to the second end  24  of the body  14 , extending inwardly above the body  14  from the second end  24  toward the center point C. 
         [0038]    The structural details of the composite clips  26  and  28  can be found, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,430 issued to the same inventor of the present invention. The entire disclosure of the patent is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , illustrated is a cross section of the intimate apparel hanger, according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, along sectional line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 . As shown, the body  14  includes an upper flange  42 , an opposite lower flange  44 , and a web  46  connecting the upper flange  42  and the lower flange  44  to provide a substantially C-shaped hanger body configuration (C-section) with a hollow channel  48 . Preferably, the upper flange  42  and the lower flange  44  are substantially horizontal and parallel to one another. Preferably, the web  46  is in the form of a vertical wall extending between the upper flange  42  and the lower flange  44 . 
         [0040]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the hanger body  14  includes at least one through opening  50  formed in the web  46 . Provision of the opening  50  greatly reduces the resin material used in manufacturing the hanger  10  and consequently the weight of the hanger. However, the configuration of the various openings still maintains the mechanical performance and structural integrity of the hanger  10  under the industry standards, such as the VICS standards. 
         [0041]    The through opening  50  can assume any suitable shape and profile depending on the structural requirements of the hanger, the preference of the molding process and the appearance of the hanger. Although the through opening  50 , exemplified, is an elongated hole substantially in the shape of a bubble as shown in  FIG. 2 , it should be understood that the number and shape of the through openings are not limited to the shown embodiment. The opening can be any shape. For example, the opening  50  can be square, triangle, or diamond. 
         [0042]    In case the hanger body  14  includes a plurality of openings  50 , the openings  50  are strategically arranged in the web  46 , in order to satisfy the VICS standards as well as maintain the mechanical performance of the hanger  10 . For example, at least two through openings  50  can be formed in the web  46  substantially symmetrical to one another relative to the center point C. 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , a first group of five through openings  50   a - 50   e  are formed in the web  46  in the first arm  18  and a second group of five through openings  50   a′ - 50   e ′ are formed in the web  46  in the second arm  20 . The first group of five through openings  50   a - 50   e  are separated from one another by a first group of four struts  52   a - 52   d.  The second group of five through openings  50   a′ - 50   e ′ are separated from one another by four struts  52   a - 52   d  by a second group of four struts  52   a′ - 52   d ′. The first group of five through openings  50   a - 50   e  are collectively separated from the second group of five through openings  50   a′ - 50   e ′ by a central strut  54 . 
         [0044]    Preferably, each one of the first group of five through openings  50   a - 50   e  is symmetrical to a respective one in the second group of five through openings  50   a′ - 50   e ′ relative to the center point C, i.e., the first opening  50   a  in the first group is symmetrical to the first opening  50   a ′ in the second group, and so on. However, it should be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art that the openings formed in the first arm and the second arm, respectively, can be asymmetrical, as long as the configuration of various through openings still maintains the mechanical performance of the hanger. 
         [0045]    Preferably, the total area of the openings  50   a - 50   e  and  50   a′ - 50   e ′ accounts for 10-95% of the total area of the web  46 , and the mechanical strength and structural integrity of the intimate apparel hanger  10  is still maintained. More preferably, the total area of the openings  50   a - 50   e  and  50   a′ - 50   e ′ accounts for  80 % of the total area of the web  46 . Preferably, the ratio of the total weight of the intimate apparel hanger  10  to the prior art intimate apparel hanger  100  of same dimensions is within the range of 75-85%. In other words, compared to the prior art intimate apparel hanger  100 , the total weight reduction achieved by the lightweight hanger  10  of the present invention is about 15-25%. 
         [0046]    Furthermore, the total weight reduction of the intimate hanger  10  according to the present invention is about 2-3 grams by weight of a standard intimate apparel hanger in the industry, such as a GS19 hanger, under the VICS standards. 
         [0047]    Therefore, from the viewpoint of the mass production of millions of hangers molded each year, a significant amount of resin material and energy for processing the hanger material can be saved each year, which effectively enhances the environment. Consequently, manufacturing and transportation costs of the millions of hangers are greatly reduced, which offers manufacturers, transporters and retailers of the hangers a commercial advantage not offered by the traditional intimate apparel hanger. 
         [0048]      FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of the hanger body  14 ′ according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the body  14 ′ includes an upper flange  42 ′ and a lower flange  44 ′. The upper flange  42 ′ and a lower flange  44 ′ are connected to one another by a web  46 ′ disposed substantially at the middle of the flanges  42 ′ and  44 ′, thereby providing a substantially I beam-shaped cross section. 
         [0049]    A pair of channels  48 ′ are formed at either side of the web. The body  14 ′ further includes at least one through opening  50 ′ formed in the web  46 ′. The through openings  50 ′ communicates with both channels  48 ′ and thus forms the opening in the web. Similar to the through opening  50 ′ in the previous embodiment, provision of the through opening  50 ′ greatly reduces the raw material used in manufacturing the hanger  10 , and concomitantly, the weight of the hanger. However, the configuration of the various openings maintains the mechanical performance and structural integrity of the hanger  10 . 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a lower neck indicator  60  (a side-sizer) is shown attached to the lower neck region  16  of the hanger  10 . The lower neck indicator  60  serves to display indicia related to the attributes of the intimate apparel, such as size, color and so on. The detailed configuration of the lower neck indicator  60  and the structure of the hanger at the lower neck region can be found, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,745 to the same inventor of the present invention. The entire disclosure of the patent is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the intimate apparel hanger  10  can further include a fixture  70  disposed at the top of the hook member  12  for attaching a top indicator  80 . The top indicator  80  serves to display indicia related to the attributes of the intimate apparel, such as size, color and so on. The detailed configuration of the fixture  70  and the top indicator  80  can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,422 to Marshall, et al., for example, which is co-owned by the assignee of the present invention. The entire disclosure of the patent is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0052]    The plastic hanger of the present invention can be formed of styrene which provides a clear, virtually transparent hanger for maximum display of intimate apparel garments, such as bras and panties, to be suspended therefrom. In the alternative, the hanger can be molded from polypropylene, preferably H.I. styrene polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, ABS or other suitable thermoplastics and mixtures thereof. For additional reinforcement, K resin can be added to the plastic material. 
         [0053]    From the foregoing illustrations it is readily apparent that the present invention is directed to a lightweight molded plastic garment hanger for high volume injection molding. The hangers of the present invention consume less material while still maintaining the mechanical performance under industry standards, for example, the VICS standards. Moreover, the production of such hangers is environmentally advantageous. 
         [0054]    The present invention has been described with respect to certain exemplary embodiments. Certain alterations and/or modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in light of the instant disclosure, without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. These embodiments are offered as merely illustrative, and not limiting, on the scope of the invention, which is defined solely with reference to the following appended claims.