Patent Publication Number: US-8113394-B2

Title: Garment hanger including fold-over paper sizer

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/057,132 filed May 29, 2008, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to garment hangers and, more particularly, to garment hangers having sizers coupled thereto. Garment hangers are often provided with size indicators, also known as sizers, for providing indicia relating to the size or type of garment hung on the hanger, or other information. Such indicators are often in the form of small U-shaped tabs that are clipped on the hanger body. A common location for securing a size indicator to a hanger is a web portion of the hanger formed between the bottom end of the hanger hook and the top of the hanger body. Typical prior art arrangements are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,115,940, 5,096,101, 5,199,608, 5,238,159, 5,305,933, 5,383,583, 5,407,109, 5,441,182 and 5,449,099. 
     As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the mentioned U-shaped size indicators are typically formed of plastic, and are designed to be secured to a hanger in a substantially non-removable manner, thereby reducing the likelihood that such indicators may be inadvertently removed from the hanger. The desire to couple the size indicator to the hanger in a non-removable manner typically increases the cost and complexity of such prior art indicators. Moreover, these prior art indicators are often times clipped to the hanger in a manner which allows the indicator to “wobble”, which can detract from the overall aesthetic appeal of the hanger. It will be further appreciated that the very same design which increases the difficulty of removing the indicator from the hanger also increases the installation force required to install the indicator on the hanger body thereby rendering assembly more difficult and costly. Finally, it will be appreciated that any reduction in the usage of plastic is viewed as having a positive impact on the environment. 
     There is therefore a need in the art for a hanger/sizer combination which provides a less complex and costly design, which allows for ready assembly of the components, which reduces the environmental impact through decreased usage of plastic, which is more child-friendly, and which provides increased flexibility for printing of indicia/graphics on the sizer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention, which addresses the needs of the prior art, relates to a garment hanger having a fold-over side sizer. In particular, the garment hanger includes a body. The garment hanger further includes a hook having a base portion joined to the body and an outer surface forming an acute angle with the body. The acute angle defines a notch at the junction of the body and the base portion of the hook. The garment hanger further includes a sizer-receiving web positioned within the notch. At least a portion of the web extends between and connects the hanger body and the base portion of the hook. The garment hanger further includes a first rib positioned along the junction and located on a first side of the web. A first sizer-receiving slot is defined between the first rib and the web. The garment hanger further includes a second rib positioned along the junction and located on a second side of the web. A second sizer-receiving slot is defined between the second rib and the web. Finally, the garment hanger includes a paper sizer foldable between a flat unfolded state and a folded U-shaped state. The sizer is shaped and sized to substantially match the configuration of the notch when installed about the web in the folded state. The sizer in the folded state is installed about the web such that a first edge of the sizer is received within the first sizer-receiving slot and a second edge of the sizer is received within the second sizer-receiving slot. 
     The present invention further relates to a garment hanger having a fold-over top sizer. In particular, the garment hanger includes a body and a hook having a base portion joined to the body. The garment hanger further includes a sizer-receiving web secured to an upper portion of the hook. The garment hanger further includes a first rib positioned on a first side of the web and defining a first sizer-receiving slot. The garment hanger further includes a second rib positioned on a second side of the web and defining a second sizer-receiving slot. Finally, the garment hanger includes a paper sizer foldable between a flat unfolded state and a foldable U-shaped state. The sizer is shaped and sized to substantially match the configuration of the web when installed thereabout. The sizer in the folded state is installed about the web such that a first edge of the sizer is received within the first sizer-receiving slot and a second edge of the sizer is received within the second sizer-receiving slot. 
     As a result, the present invention provides a hanger/sizer combination which provides a less complex and costly design, which allows for ready assembly of the components, which reduces the environmental impact through decreased usage of plastic, which is more child-friendly, and which provides increased flexibility for printing of indicia/graphics on the sizer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded front perspective view of the hanger and sizer of the present invention showing the sizer in an unfolded state; 
         FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  showing the sizer in a folded state; 
         FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  showing the hanger/sizer assembly; 
         FIG. 4  is another view of the hanger/sizer assembly; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded front perspective view of alternative embodiment showing the sizer in an unfolded state; 
         FIG. 6 . is a view similar to  FIG. 5  showing the sizer in a folded state; 
         FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  showing the hanger/sizer assembly; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 6 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of a  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A garment hanger  10  is provided with a side sizer  12  in a manner that allows a person to easily view the information, such as garment size, provided on the sizer. As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , garment hanger  10  includes a body  14 . It is contemplated herein that body  14  can be formed with a pair of downwardly-depending arms as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,101 or, alternatively, can include a horizontally-extending bar as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,199,608 and 5,383,583. 
     A hook  18  is joined to body  14 , preferably at the central portion of the hanger. The hook includes a base portion  20  that includes an outer surface extending at an acute angle with respect to an outer surface of body  14 . A notch  22  is accordingly formed between base portion  20  of hook  18  and a top surface  24  of body  14 . 
     A sizer-receiving web  26  is positioned within the notch. The web is integral with both body  14  and base portion  20  of hook  18 . A first rib  28  is formed on one side of web  26 , while a second rib  30  is formed on the other side of web  26 . A sizer-receiving slot is formed between each rib and the adjacent portion of web  26 . In addition, hook  18  may include a tab  32 , while top surface  24  may include a tab  34 . 
     Thus, garment hanger  10  (except for sizer  12 ) is preferably an integrally molded plastic structure. It includes a substantially continuous peripheral wall  35  that provides stiffness. The wall may include gaps (not shown) in certain portions of the hanger that may be used to support garments or may be provided with clips or the like (not shown). 
     Sizer  12  is preferably formed as a flat pattern, i.e., in an unfolded state. In one preferred embodiment, sizer  12  is formed of paper, thus reducing the overall usage of resin in the hanger/sizer combination. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, this reduction in usage of resin is believed to be positive for the environment. Moreover, the usage of paper for the sizer provides a more child-friendly product, as well as an improved base for printing and/or application of graphics thereon. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 3-4 , sizer  12  is shaped and sized to substantially match the configuration of notch  22 . To assemble the hanger/sizer combination, sizer  12  is folded about fold lines  36  to form a U-shaped clip (as best seen in  FIG. 2 ). Sizer  12  is then positioned over web  26  such that a first leg of the sizer is located on a first side of the web, while the other leg of the sizer is located on the other side of the web. The sizer is preferably inserted over web  26  until apex  38  contacts notch  22 , and until one edge of sizer  12  is inserted under rib  28  and another edge of sizer is inserted under rib  30 . Once installed, tabs  32 ,  34  maintain the sizer in the installed position by resisting subsequent movement of the sizer. In one embodiment, an adhesive is installed on one or both of the web or sizer to further secure the sizer to the web. 
     Although the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-4  is directed to what is commonly known referred to as a side sizer, it is contemplated herein that the slide-in sizer of the present invention can also be used in a top sizer arrangement. More particularly, as shown in  FIG. 5-9 , a sizer-receiving web  50  can be secured to an upper portion of hook  18 ′ and can be sized and shaped to receive an alternative sizer, e.g., top sizer  52 . In this regard, sizer-receiving web  50  preferably includes a first rib  54  formed on one side of the web, and a second web (not shown) formed on the other side of the web. A sizer-receiving slot is formed between each rib and the adjacent portion of the web. In addition, a tab  56  is preferably formed on a portion of hook  18 ′ to resist movement of the sizer once such sizer has been installed over the web. Of course, it is contemplated herein that the size, shape and/or configuration of sizer-receiving web  50  can be varied. For example, sizer-receiving web could be provided with an oval configuration, or could be arranged such that the sizer is installed from an upper position, rather than from a side position. 
     Thus, while there have been described what are presently believed to be the preferred embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate other and further changes and modifications thereto, and it is intended to include such other changes as come with the scope of the invention.