Abstract:
A drop loop hanger for maintaining two piece garments in a stable and attractive condition for retail customers includes clip means formed either integrally with the drop loop or as a separate member and, by virtue of the inherent resiliency of the clip means and a multi-point support on either side of the vertical shank of the drop loop, stabilizes the drop loop with respect to the hook hanger.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to display hangers and particularly to drop loop type hangers which must present two piece garments, such as swimsuits, in a stable and attractive manner to retail customers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Multi-part garments, such as two piece swimsuits, are difficult to present in an attractive, eye-pleasing fashion to the retail customer. One form of garment hanger that has been developed to display such garments comprises two pieces, namely, a conventional upper garment hanger and a lower, drop loop hanger. The drop loop hanger usually includes a loop, generally flexible, from which a downwardly extending vertical spacer rod extends, the spacer rod terminating at its lower end portion in a generally horizontally disposed cross bar. The drop loop hanger cross bar is thereby spaced a desired vertical distance below the cross bar of the upper hanger so that the two pieces of the garment are separated, one from the other, when attached to the garment hanger. Each of the cross bars has suitable means, such as a clip for suspending and displaying one piece of a two piece garment at each end of each cross bar. 
     While such a compound hanger serves the basic function of displaying both pieces of a two piece garment in spaced relationship to one another, the overall appearance to the customer is often somewhat unattractive because the drop loop hanger has a tendency to swing about its point of support on the upper cross bar like a pendulum. Further, often the customer is not able to obtain a good view of a racked garment when the top cross bar is tilted by the customer in an attempt to swing the garment out away from similar garments located on either side of it. The adjacent garments, particularly when a rack of such garments is quite crowded, tend to hold the lower garment and the drop loop hanger in its normal vertical position by reason of the restraining forces exerted by the adjacent garments on the drop loop garment. As a consequence, the lower piece of the two piece garment is not brought out into the open where the customer may view it. 
     Even when the customer removes the garment from the rack a poor presentation often results because the lower drop loop hanger flops about as the customer holds the garment up and attempts to view it from different angles while contemplating purchase. 
     In addition to the above described customer related deficiencies inherent in current drop loop type hangers, loading of the garment on such a hanger is more difficult than it should be due to the free swinging action of the drop loop hanger. Retail store personnel for example are often required to load a large number of two piece garments on such hangers in a relatively short period of time, as when a new shipment of such garments are received at a retail store. The loading task can be fatiguing and frustrating, both for the retail store personnel who load the hangers at the retail store and, also, for the factory personnel who load the hangers prior to shipment in those instances where the garments are shipped in a hung condition. 
     The above described problems cannot be avoided by simply making the upper and lower hangers of a structurally integral construction since, particularly at the retail level, the hangers must be disassembled for seasonal use; specifically, the drop loop hanger which displays a two piece swimsuit in June may be required to display a pair of heavy wool slacks in November, at which time the drop loop hanger would be a nuisance. Hence, to accommodate the possibility of all season use, the hanger components must be separable, one from another. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The garment hanger of this invention is a separable, two piece hanger capable of suspending and displaying one or two piece garments in a visually pleasing manner. The hanger may be loaded and unloaded in less time and with less effort than current drop loop hangers. These attributes flow from the use of securement means which fix the relative positions of the upper hanger and the drop loop hanger one to another upon assembly without (i) regard to the movements imparted to the entire assembly during assembly at the factory or retail store, (ii) the loading of garments onto the hangers at either locale, or (iii) the forces which are imparted to the hanger and its suspended garment during use, such as manipulation of the hangers and the garment it displays by a retail customer, and removal of multi-piece garments from the hanger. The securement means can be formed integrally with the drop loop hanger and be formed for gripping connection to the upper hanger, or as a third piece which is assembled to both the upper hanger and the drop loop hanger. Whether the securement means is formed integrally with a hanger or as a separate piece, the assembly process can be carried out, with minimal training, with one hand by an assembler. Either one or both pieces of a two piece garment initially suspended from the hanger can be removed from the hanger without destroying the structural rigidity of the assembly whereby the hanger is ready, without preparation, to receive another one or two piece garment. Preferably the securement means is formed from a conventional flexible plastic material used in this type of product so that the securement means is capable of a nearly unlimited number of loadings and unloadings, and additional flexings, with no deterioration in structural integrity. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a separable, multi-part garment hanger of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a view of a portion of the clip component of the securement means taken substantially along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 in an as-manufactured, non-activated condition; 
     FIG. 3 is an end view of the portion of the clip component shown in FIG. 2 in the same condition; 
     FIG. 4 is front view of the upper end portion of the drop loop hanger and the clip illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 in a pre-final assembled condition; 
     FIG. 5 is a front perspective of the lower central portion of the upper hanger and the upper end portion of the drop loop hanger with the securement means in an activated condition; 
     FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 from the other side of the garment hanger of this invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the upper end portion of the drop loop hanger of another embodiment of the garment hanger of this invention; 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the assembly of the upper end portion of the drop loop hanger of FIG. 7 to the upper hanger; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the structure of FIG. 8 in an assembled condition; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the central portion of the cross bar of the upper hanger of yet another embodiment of the invention; and 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 10 in an assembled condition. 
     Like reference numerals will be used to refer to like parts from Figure to Figure in the drawing. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring first to FIGS. 1-6 and initially to FIG. 1, a garment hanger known generally as a drop loop type hanger is shown in assembled condition in FIG. 1. An upper hanger is indicated generally at 10 and a lower drop loop type hanger is indicated generally at 11. The upper hanger 10 includes a generally horizontally oriented cross bar which is indicated generally at 12 and a hook 13. Hook 13 is received in a boss 14 which projects above the cross bar 12 and may be fixed or securable with respect thereto as desired. The upper cross bar 12 includes an upper flange 15, a lower flange 16, and a web 17 which connects flanges 15 and 16. Garment suspending means located at each end of the upper cross bar 12 are indicated generally at 18 and 19. In this instance, clamp type suspending means have been shown, but since the specific type of garment suspending means may be of different construction they are not described in detail. 
     The drop loop hanger 11 includes a generally horizontally oriented cross bar indicated generally at 20, and a generally vertically upperwardly extending shaft member indicated generally at 21, the drop loop hanger terminating at its upper end portion in a loop 22 which, as best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, is sufficiently flexible and deformable to be threaded over the hook 13 while maintaining the shaft 21 vertical. 
     A securement member or clip is indicated generally at 24. The clip has a horizontal body section 25 which terminates at its ends in inward facing hooks 26 and 27. A centrally located upperwardly extending projection is indicated at 28. Two vertical raised bars are indicated at 29, 30, the two bars being spaced apart a distance sufficient to receive the shaft 21 in snug, or nearly snug, relationship as best seen in FIG. 4. A third horizontally positioned raised bar is shown at 31, bar 31 being located on the projection 28 and above the upper ends of vertical bars 29, 30 a distance sufficient to snugly, or nearly snugly, receive the lower bar 32 of the loop 22. 
     Garment suspending means located at the ends of the cross bar 20 are indicated generally 33 and 34. In this instance clamp type suspending means well adapted to hold, for example, one piece of a two piece bathing suit have been shown, but since the specific type of suspending means may be of different constructions they are not described in detail. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 7-9, a drop loop hanger is indicated generally at 36. The upper end of the shaft 21 terminates in a loop 22 which may be identical in construction to the loop in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, though it need not be. In this embodiment a pair of hooks 37, 38 extend generally horizontally outwardly from each side of shaft 21, one on each side as shown best on FIG. 7. Each hook terminates in an inwardly directed lip 39, 40 respectively. As best seen from FIG. 9 the vertical distance between the under side of lip 39 or 40 and the top of the shank portion of its associated hook is sufficient to snugly, or near snugly, receive and fit over the lower flange 16 of upper cross bar 12. 
     In the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11 a pair of ears 41, 42 project outwardly from web 17. Preferably the ears have a vertical height sufficient to prevent the loop 22 10 from moving upwardly or downwardly after the drop loop hanger 11 is assembled to the upper hanger 10 as shown in FIG. 11; that is, with the flexible drop loop 22 flexed around, and in abutting engagement with, the side of the boss 14 which is located on the opposite side of the web from the ears 4-, 42. In the same way, the ears 41, 42 are spaced horizontally a distance sufficient to form a snug, or nearly snug, fit with the inside vertical sides 43, 44 of the loop 22. 
     From the foregoing it will be seen that the garment hanger in each of its forms enables two piece garments, such as swimsuits, to be attractively displayed. Further, the hanger in all of its forms is suitable for all season use in that the drop loop hanger portion may be easily detached to thereby permit the upper hanger to be used to display a wide variety of single piece garments as the season demands, yet it can be quickly and easily converted to display two piece garments in response to season changes or other requirements. The garment hanger assembly can be readily molded from conventional plastic materials which have been heretofore used in this type of hanger. After minimal familiarity with the hanger, retail and manufacturing personnel will be able to assemble and disassemble the hanger with ease. 
     Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications and improvements can be made within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not intended to be limited to the foregoing description which is exemplary, but only by the scope of the hereafter appended claims when interpreted in light of the relevant prior art.