Patent Publication Number: US-7896204-B2

Title: Multiple clip wraparound hanger

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of garment hangers, and more specifically to a garment hanger having multiple clips for attractively securing and displaying a garment. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Wraparound garment hangers are so named because a garment wider than the garment hanger, typically but not exclusively women&#39;s undergarments or swimsuit bottoms, is wrapped around the garment hanger and held by clips at the ends of the garment hanger. Therefore, the center portion of the garment is displayed, while reducing the width of the display and advantageously increasing display density. However, the outer portion of the garment and/or the garment straps may hang down in an unsightly manner. 
     Accordingly, additional inward clips were added to certain prior art wraparound garment hangers to hold portions of the garment behind the center portion on display. Although traditional clips secure the center portion of a wide garment, they fail to attractively secure and display the outer portions of the garment as well. Furthermore, the inward clips of the prior art are substantially rigid and make it difficult to repetitiously secure a large number of garments. 
     Therefore, a wraparound garment hanger having clips with improved flexibility that can hold the outer portions of a garment and/or the garment straps neatly without protruding from behind the central display portion of the garment and which permit repetitious handling is desirable in the art. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a multiple clip wraparound garment hanger is provided. The hanger includes a body having a first arm and a second arm extending laterally outward in opposing directions to a first end and a second end, respectively, and a hook extending upward from the body for suspending the garment hanger from a support at a generally central location. A first pair of garment clips is secured to the first and second arms at the first and second ends, respectively. A second pair of garment clips is secured to the body inward of the first and second ends, and a third pair of garment clips is secured to the body inward of the second pair of clips. The second and third pairs of garment clips include a first support member and a second support member having a different thickness than the thickness of the first support member. The first support member is substantially flexible for permitting deflection of the first support member in a direction into and out of a plane of the body. 
     With this arrangement, as a garment is inserted into the second and third pairs of garment clips, it is easier for a worker to insert the garment and/or the garment strap between the first and second support members. Furthermore, the compound movement of each garment clip of the first pair of garment clips results in the garment receiving channel of the clip first opening to allow the garment to enter, and then closing to securely retain the garment therein. The center portion of the garment is displayed, while reducing the width of the display and advantageously increasing display density. However, the outer portions of the garment and/or the garment straps are advantageously secured behind the garment within a garment clip. 
     Optionally, each garment clip of the first pair of garment clips includes a vertical support member vertically extending from the first and second arms at the first and second ends, respectively. Each garment clip of the first pair of garment clips further includes a cantilever mount connecting the vertical support member to an inner support member, the inner support member extending down vertically from the body. Each garment clip of the first pair of garment clips further includes a first mouth defined by the vertical support member and the inner support member, wherein the first mouth guides a garment into the first pair of garment clips. 
     Furthermore, each garment clip of the first pair of garment clips includes a first toothed section disposed along the inner edge of the vertical support member and a second toothed section disposed along an outer edge of the inner support member. In this configuration, the first toothed section and the second toothed section oppose each other to form a garment receiving channel that grasps and retains the garment. 
     Furthermore, the second and third pairs of garment clips of the present invention are designed with a much greater flexibility, without a stiffening rib extending along the length of the first support member. The more flexible first support member is much easier to open and use, and provides greater flexibility for the insertion of garments. This greatly alleviates problems with carpel tunnel syndrome by persons who are employed to insert a great number of garments into a great number of such garment clips. To achieve this, the thickness and length of the first support member are different than the thickness and the length of the second support member. The first support member extends vertically down from the body and curves away from the second support member to define a second mouth. As the garment and/or garment strap enters the second mouth, the first support member begins to deflect in a direction into and out of a plane of the body. The second support member includes a substantially U-shaped member having a first free end and a second end integrally molded with the body. Because the second support member has a greater thickness than the first support member, the second support member is more resistant to movement into and out of the plane of the body. However, as the garment and/or garment strap moves further towards the body, the first free end of the U-shaped member deflects in a direction transverse to the plane of the body. 
     Optionally, each of the first, second and third pairs of garment clips are integrally molded with the body and located approximately equidistant from a centerline of the body, respectively. Furthermore, the garment hanger is made from at least one injection molded plastic selected from the group consisting of styrene, styrene polypropylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, nylon, K resin and acrylics. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing objects and advantages of the present invention for a garment hanger may be more readily understood by one skilled in the art with reference being had to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are designated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of a garment hanger according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of a first, second and third pair of garment clips of the hanger according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged sectional view, taken along sectional arrows  1 - 1  in  FIG. 2 , and illustrates further details of construction of the second and third pairs of garment clips. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , illustrated is a multiple clip garment hanger (hereinafter “garment hanger”)  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Garment hanger  10  has a body  12 , with a first arm  14  and a second arm  16  extending laterally outward in opposing directions to respective first and second ends  18 ,  20 . A hook  22  extends upward from the body  12  for suspending the garment hanger  10  from a support (not shown). The particular illustrated shapes of the central hook member  12  and the first and second arms  14 ,  16  are exemplary only, and may vary in number and shape. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , a plurality of garment clips  26  are secured to the garment hanger  10 , and are optionally integrally molded with the body  12  and/or arms  14 ,  16 . A first pair of garment clips  26   a ,  26   b  are secured to the first and second arms  14 ,  16  at the first and second ends  18 ,  20 , respectively. A second pair of garment clips  26   c ,  26   d  are secured to the garment hanger body  12  inward of the first and second ends  18 ,  20 . Finally, a third pair of clips  26   e ,  26   f , is secured to the body  12  still further inward of the second pair of clips  26   c ,  26   d . The second and third pairs of clips  26   d - 26   f  are located approximately equidistant from a centerline A-A of the body  12 . Optionally, the second pair of clips  26   c ,  26   d  are each equidistant from the clips  26   a ,  26   b  of the first pair, and clips  26   e ,  26   f  of the third pair. 
     The plurality of clips  26  are preferably double-action clips, for example as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,102 to Tendrup, et al., the complete disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. A double-action clip has a cooperating finger and an opposite member to engage an interposed garment therebetween. The finger is movable into a clearance provided behind it to allow for the bulk of the garment. This adjustment in position of the finger relieves stresses in the plastic at the juncture of the finger connection to the garment hanger, thus reducing the tendency of rupture at said juncture. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , each garment clip of the first pair of garment clips  26   a ,  26   b  includes a vertical support member  30  vertically extending from the first and second arms  14 ,  16  at the first and second ends  18 ,  20 , respectively. Each garment clip  26   a ,  26   b  also includes a cantilever mount  32  connecting the vertical support member  30  to an inner support member  36  extending down vertically from the body  12 . This configuration forms a first mouth  40  defined by the vertical support member  30  and the inner support member  36 , wherein the first mouth  40  guides a garment into the first pair of garment clips  26   a ,  26   b . In this embodiment, the vertical support member  30  is substantially U-shaped and has a free end  33  supported by a web  35 . The web  35  stiffens the vertical support member  30  and decreases movement of the free end  33  in a direction transverse to the plane of the body  10 . 
     The construction and design are such that as a garment or strap is initially inserted into the mouth  40 , the combination of the vertical support member  30  and the inner support member  36  rotates about the cantilever mount  32 . During initial insertion of the garment, the vertical support member  30  bends outwardly. As the garment slides towards the free end  33  of the vertical support member  30 , it causes an outward flexure of the free end  33  of the vertical support member  30 . This results in an inward deflection of the vertical support member  30  near the mouth  40  and a closing of the bottom of the vertical support member  30 . Accordingly, as a garment is inserted into the first pair of garment clips  26   a ,  26   b , the compound movement of the vertical support member  30  and the inner support member  36  results in the mouth  40  of the clip first opening to allow the garment to enter, and then closing to securely retain the garment. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 2 , each garment clip of the first pair of garment clips  26   a  (not shown),  26   b  includes a first toothed section  42  disposed along an inner edge  37  of the vertical support member  30  and a second toothed section  44  disposed along an outer edge  41  of the inner support member  36 . The first toothed section  42  and the second toothed section  44  oppose each other to form a garment receiving channel  48  that grasps and retains the garment. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the second and third pair of garment clips  26   d - 26   f  will be described in greater detail. As shown best in the enlarged sectional view of  FIG. 3 , each of the second and third pairs of garment clips  26   d ,  26   f  includes a first support member  60  and a second support member  62  having a different thickness (T) than the thickness (t) of the first support member  60 . The second support member  62  is optionally constructed to have the same thickness (T) as the body  12 . The first support member  60  is substantially flexible and permits deflection of the first support member  60  in a direction into and out of a plane of the body  12 . As shown, because the thickness (t) of the first support member  60  is less than the thickness (T) of the second support member  62 , the first support member  60  deflects in the z-direction into and out of the x-y plane of the body  12 . However, the first support member  60  generally resists movement in a direction transverse to the x-y plane of the body  12 . 
     Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 2 , to increase the flexibility of the first support member  60 , an opening  66  is provided adjacent to the body  12  within the first support member  60 . The opening  66  reduces the amount of material in the first support member  60  and thereby decreases the rigidity of the first support member  60  near the body  12 . The first support member  60  extends vertically down from the body  12  and curves away from the second support member  62  to define a second mouth  78 . 
     The second mouth  78  guides a garment and/or garment strap into the third pair of garment clips  26   e ,  26   f  As also shown, the length ( 1 ) of the first support member  60  is less than the length (L) of the second support member  62 . However, it can be appreciated that the lengths of the first and second support members  60 ,  62  relative to each other can vary without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the second member  62  is substantially U-shaped and has a first free end  70  and a second end  72  integrally molded with the body  12 . The second support member  62  is relatively inflexible as compared to the first support member  60  and generally resists deflection in the z-direction into and out of the x-y plane of the body  12 . However, unlike the vertical support member  30  of the first pair of garment clips  26   a ,  26   b , the second member  62  has no supportive web. Therefore, the first free end  70  is generally flexible and permits deflection in a direction transverse to and from the x-y plane of the body  12 . This transverse deflection is beneficial because it reduces the likelihood that the second member  62  will fail when a garment and/or a garment strap is inserted therein. 
     In a preferred embodiment, a garment is inserted into and wrapped around the first pair of clips  26   a ,  26   b  to display the central portion of the garment. The outer portions of the garment extending beyond the first pair of clips  26   a ,  26   b , would be passed through the innermost pair of clips  26   e ,  26   f . The remaining portion of the garment extending beyond the innermost pair of clips  26   e ,  26   f  would be placed through and secured by the intermediate pair of clips  26   c ,  26   d , so as to conceal the remaining portion beneath and behind the center portion of the garment. 
     The more flexible first support member  60  is much easier to open and use, and provides greater flexibility for the insertion of garments. This greatly alleviates problems with carpel tunnel syndrome associated with rigid garment clips having little flexibility in a direction into and out of the plane of the body. 
     The inventive plastic garment hanger can be formed of styrene which provides a clear, virtually transparent polystyrene garment hanger for maximum display of the garment to be suspended therefrom. Alternatively, the garment hanger  10  can be molded from styrene polypropylene, polypropylene, polyvinychloride, ABS or other suitable thermoplastics and mixtures thereof. For additional reinforcement, K resin can be added to the plastic material. The preferred material, polystyrene, has a Flexural Modulus, MPa, of 3,170, taken from CONCISE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF POLYMER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, p. 1117. 
     Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to various specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the hanger illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.