Patent Description:
It is desirable to present information about garment on the hanger upon which they are hung to allow a customer to readily identify a product and its size in order to choose the correct item for them. As a garment hanger may be employed to hang different garments, it is desirable that such information is able to be removed and replaced. The information most often required is the size of the garment, but it may be other information, such as the brand name.

Sizers are regularly employed on garment hangers and the most common occurring is a collar that fits around the hook of a garment hanger and can be fed over the end of the hook to apply it. The collar sits on the garment hanger and is retained thereon, often due to gravity; however, if the hanger is turned upside-down, the sizer collar may slide off the hook.

Other sizers may be used that clip onto the hanger, for example, by push-fitting onto the hanger, such as set out in <CIT>) and <CIT>). Whilst they are less likely to disengage, they are often difficult to fit and remove and require a good deal of force to get them on and off.

<CIT>) discloses an apparatus for hanging garments from a hook, the apparatus having an attachment for a thin garment indicia tab used for displaying information about the garment which has been hung on the apparatus.

<CIT>) discloses an indicator or sizer that slidably fits into a web on the top part of the hook of a clothes hanger.

<CIT>) discloses a garment hanger arrangement according to the preamble of claim <NUM>. It discloses a hanger having an arm configuration to allow a passage between the hook region of the hanger and one of the lateral branches of the hanger.

<CIT>) discloses a garment hanger having a sizer receiving web situated between the hook part of the hanger and the base part of the hanger, wherein a sizer is received into a slot formed by the web.

The present invention is directed to a garment hanger arrangement as set out in Claim <NUM>. Preferred features are set out in the sub-claims.

Accordingly, the present invention includes a garment hanger comprising an element-receiving channel, wherein the element-receiving channel has a length and a width, and the hanger is adapted to slidably receive an information element into the element-receiving channel.

Employing a channel to slidably receive an element, for example a sizer, provides a convenient location to easily slide a sizer onto the hanger that avoids having to thread the element onto the hook of a hanger or force the sizer over ridges. Additionally, it can be located to avoid any interference with the internal edge of the support engaging portion, which is normally a hook. Additionally, it can be readily accessed and easily applied and removed.

The information element is received from a direction that is not perpendicular to its length, and, preferably, the direction is substantially parallel with the length of the element-receiving channel. The use of an element-receiving channel simplifies the engagement and disengagement of the information element by requiring movement of the respective parts in a single linear direction that is non-perpendicular to the length of the channel.

The element receiving channel is arranged with the length being greater than the width and the element receiving channel is substantially linear. This allows the information element to be easily received onto the hanger by sliding it in a substantially linear manner. It will be appreciated that the information element may have a substantially linear engaging section on its internal surface so as to engage with the substantially linear element-receiving channel. Thus, the information element may be of any shape, but the engaging surface of the information element is substantially linear.

It is preferable that at least one end of the channel is arranged adjacent an edge of the hanger.

Having the channel positioned adjacent the edge of the hanger, preferably a curved edge, allows the end of the channel to be substantially open to allow the information element to be readily positioned and slid onto, and from, the garment hanger. The open end of the channel makes the application and removal easier, particularly if the axial length of the channel is adjacent an edge of the hanger.

The channel comprises an opening and/or a substantially lateral lip at, or adjacent, one end.

This reduces the risk of inadvertent disengagement of the element because the element can be positioned within the channel and the lip can abut an end of the element and provide some resistance to disengagement. The lip may be less deep than the walls of the channel, which allows the sizer to readily pass thereover, but also provides some resistance to disengagement.

Advantageously, the element-engaging channel is located on a hook portion or a body portion of the garment hanger, which provides an easily visible location for customers to see the information.

It is preferable that at least a portion of the hook and/or body portion of the hanger is substantially planar, and the element-receiving channel is located on that planar portion. Where there is a planar or flat section, it is easier to apply and remove the element to/from the hanger. The whole hanger may comprise a planar material or just part of the hanger may be made of the planar material.

The arrangement of a garment hanger and slidable information element engaging the garment hanger provides a readily replaceable information element that can be reliably retained on the hanger and quickly changed, when needed.

The information element comprises a substantially U-shaped recess that, in use, engages the garment hanger and, preferably, the information element has protrusions or teeth that abut the walls of the element-receiving channel when engaged on the garment hanger. This allows the element to wrap around the hanger and to grip onto the hanger, within the element-receiving channel with the internal surface of the U-shaped information element being adjacent an edge of the hanger. The internal recess of the information element is provided with a U-shape such that it can wrap around the hanger and sit adjacent the front and back of the element-receiving channel, whilst engaging the edge of the hanger.

Advantageously, the garment hanger and the information element are made from polypropylene. Employing the same material for both parts allows the combination to be readily recycled without having to disengage the parts beforehand.

In another aspect not forming part of the invention, there may be provided a garment hanger element applicator/removal tool comprising:.

The tool allows the application and removal of the information element to be more easily achieved.

In one arrangement not forming part of the invention, the hanger-receiving channel is open at both ends. Having the hanger-receiving channel open at both ends allows a hanger to be threaded into the channel from either direction and it may also be possible to slide the hanger through the length of the hanger-receiving channel, thereby making it simple for a user to quickly remove the element from the hanger or apply one thereto.

It is preferable that at least one lip is provided within or adjacent the recess and protruding into or over the recess. The lip can be employed to grip the element to be removed, thereby making process easier for the user and reducing the forces required for removal of elements from hangers.

Advantageously, there is provided a base section with securing mechanism or handle.

Having a base section with a securing mechanism, which may be in the form or an aperture, allows the tool to be fixed to a surface or for a lanyard or other element to be connected to the tool. Other securing mechanisms may include locking protrusions or locking recesses that fit to corresponding parts and/or a hook section. Similarly, a handle allows the user to more easily grip and operate the tool.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

<FIG> show a garment hanger arrangement <NUM> comprising a garment hanger <NUM>, an information element in the form of a sizer <NUM> that is slidably engageable with, or connectable to, the garment hanger <NUM> and a tool <NUM> for applying and/or removing the sizer <NUM> from the garment hanger <NUM>.

The garment hanger <NUM> comprises a support-engaging portion in the form of a hook <NUM>, a body <NUM> and a deformable elongate member <NUM>, the elongate member <NUM> comprising a first part of a connection mechanism <NUM> and the hanger having a second part of a connection mechanism <NUM> positioned away from the first part of the connection mechanism <NUM>, such that the elongate member <NUM> can be deformed back upon itself and
connected to the hanger <NUM> to form a loop. The end of the elongate member <NUM> distal from the support-engaging portion <NUM> is narrower than the span of the support engaging portion <NUM>.

In the embodiment of <FIG>, although it is optional, and the elongate member <NUM> comprises two pre-determined weakened regions <NUM> and may include a third predetermined weakened region <NUM>. The predetermined weakened regions <NUM> allow the elongate member <NUM>, when it is in its deformed state to form a triangular loop that may have a substantially flat spacer <NUM> at the intended lower end of the triangular loop so that an item rests upon the substantially flat spacer <NUM> when in use.

The hook <NUM> is provided with a channel <NUM>, which is shown more clearly in <FIG>. The channel <NUM> has a pair of parallel depressions <NUM> either side of a central ridge <NUM> and comprises a first section <NUM> and a second section <NUM>, divided by a lateral ridge <NUM>. The channel <NUM> is closed at one end <NUM> and open at the other end <NUM>, so that a sizer element <NUM> can slidably engage the channel <NUM> through the open end <NUM> and abut the closed end <NUM>. Whilst the channel <NUM> may be provided on just one side of the hanger, it is provided on both sides of the hanger <NUM> in the embodiment shown in the Figures.

The sizer <NUM> is cuboid shaped, although other shapes may be employed, and has a recess <NUM> with an internal U-shaped profile along one edge. The U-shaped recess <NUM> has a first pair of inwardly projecting protrusions <NUM> along its internal surface and a second pair of inwardly projecting protrusions <NUM> adjacent the open end of the U-shaped recess <NUM>. The sizer <NUM> comprises a resiliently yieldable material to allow it to elastically deform.

A tool <NUM> not forming part of the invention is provided to applying and/or removing the sizer <NUM> from the hanger <NUM>. The tool <NUM> comprises a base section <NUM> that is provided with walls <NUM> extending therefrom and the base further comprises an extension <NUM> with an aperture <NUM> therein. The aperture <NUM> may be used to fix the tool <NUM> to a surface to for attaching a lanyard, string, chain or other retaining means to the tool.

Within the walls <NUM> is a rectangular recess <NUM> that is sized and shaped to receive the sizer <NUM>. The recess <NUM> is intersected by a hanger-receiving channel <NUM> that extends parallel with the longitudinal axis of the recess <NUM> and passes therethrough, subsequently extending the length of the walls so that the channel <NUM> is open at both ends, although it will be appreciated that, in some arrangements, it could be closed at one or both ends.

To apply the sizer <NUM> to the hanger, the sizer <NUM> is placed within the recess <NUM> of the tool <NUM>, so that it rests on the intended bottom surface of the recess <NUM>. The tool <NUM> is then slipped over the hook <NUM> of the garment hanger <NUM> and the hanger passes through the hanger receiving channel <NUM>. The arrow on the figures denotes the direction of movement of the tool <NUM>, relative to the hanger <NUM>. As the hanger <NUM> passes through the hanger-receiving channel <NUM>, the sizer <NUM> slidably engages with the sizer-receiving channel <NUM>, with the inward protrusions <NUM> and <NUM> being received within the respective depressions <NUM>. Thus, the U-shaped recess <NUM> of the sizer <NUM> wraps around the hanger <NUM>. The sizer <NUM> slides into the sizer-receiving channel <NUM> until it passes over the lateral ridge <NUM>, which retains it thereupon. The sizer <NUM> is wrapped around the hanger with the U-shaped recess adjacent the front, back and edge of the hanger <NUM>.

To remove the sizer <NUM> from the hanger <NUM>, the reverse steps are undertaken and tool <NUM> is placed over the sizer <NUM> and slides away from the elongate section of the hanger <NUM> to remove the sizer <NUM> from the hanger <NUM>. The sizer <NUM> is retained in the recess <NUM> after removal to avoid it being inadvertently lost. To remove the sizer <NUM> from the tool <NUM>, the tool <NUM> is rotated so that the sizer <NUM> can fall out of the recess <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a tool that is provided with at least one, and preferable two, lips, teeth or flanges <NUM> provided on the upper surface of the tool <NUM> that protrude into, or above, the recess <NUM>. The lips or flanges <NUM> on the top edge of the recess, or adjacent the recess and extending thereover, of the tool <NUM> may be provided at both ends of the recess <NUM> to allow the tool <NUM> to remove information elements, such as sizers, from either direction.

The tool <NUM> may be used to remove similar shaped sizers that clip onto garment hangers, rather than slide thereon. To apply the sizer, it is placed into the recess <NUM> of the tool <NUM> and the hanger is placed within the channel <NUM> and pushed further into the tool <NUM>, which parts the protrusions of the sizer to allow the hanger to engage the recess in the sizer. Similarly, the remove the sizer, the hanger and attached sizer are placed in the tool <NUM> and positioned so that sizer <NUM> is positioned within the region between the lip <NUM> and the base of the recess <NUM>. The lip <NUM> grips the sizer and the hanger <NUM> can be pulled out of the recess <NUM>, the forces on the sizer <NUM> parting the protrusions and allowing the sizer <NUM> to disengage from the hanger <NUM>. Such an arrangement does not slide the sizer from the hanger, but rather pulls, or forces, it therefrom. A rotational movement of the hanger may be desirable to aid with the removal of the sizer.

Claim 1:
A garment hanger arrangement (<NUM>) comprising:
an information element (<NUM>), a garment hanger (<NUM>) comprising a substantially linear element-receiving channel (<NUM>), wherein the channel (<NUM>) has a length and a width, with the length of the channel (<NUM>) being greater than the width, wherein the channel (<NUM>) is adapted to slidably receive the information element (<NUM>); and the information element (<NUM>) having a length, a width and a substantially U-shaped internal recess (<NUM>) extending along the length of the information element (<NUM>); wherein the information element (<NUM>) is receivable onto the channel (<NUM>) by means of the U-shaped internal recess (<NUM>) so that the region along the length of the information element (<NUM>) and distal to the opening of the U-shape internal recess (<NUM>) of the information element (<NUM>) is parallel to the length of the channel (<NUM>) as it is received into the channel (<NUM>),
characterised in that the channel (<NUM>) is arranged in the hanger (<NUM>) to slidably receive the information element (<NUM>) from a direction non-perpendicular its length,
and in that the channel (<NUM>) is closed at one end (<NUM>) and open at the other end (<NUM>) and comprises a lateral ridge (<NUM>) at the other end (<NUM>) so that the information element (<NUM>) can slidably engage the channel (<NUM>) through the open end, slide into the channel (<NUM>) until the information element (<NUM>) passes over the lateral ridge, which then retains the information element (<NUM>) within the channel, and the information element can abut the closed end of the channel (<NUM>).