GB1569861A - Garment hanger - Google Patents

Description

(54) GARMENT HANGER (71) We, MARKS & SPENCER LIMITED, a British Company, of Michel House, Baker Street, London W1A 1DN, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described, in and by the following statement: This invention relates to hangers for garments, such as coats, jackets, dresses and skirts, comprising a crosspiece and a suspension hook.

When a row of garments are suspended one behind another by hangers suspended from a bar, it is difficult to get at the individual garments in order to ascertain their size or style. It is therefore common practice to affix a label to the crosspiece of each hanger to suspend a tag from the hook of each hanger, the label or tag bearing numbers, letters, words, or other alphanumeric data representing size, for example.

However, such labels and tags are obscured from view by the garments in front of them, and the hangers have to be pushed away from one another so that the data can be read.

The present invention provides a garment hanger comprising a crosspiece and a suspension hook having a shank which extends from the crosspiece, the crosspiece being provided with a tab having an upstanding face for bearing alphanumeric data, the tab being immediately adjacent the point at which the shank extends from the crosspiece and projecting above the crosspiece, the tab being of less thickness than the width of the crosspiece in the region of the tab and there being a clearance above the crosspiece adjacent the face of the tab opposite to the data bearing face.

The data can thus be provided at the point of optimum visibility. The alphanumerical data may be stamped in the tab or embossed on it, for example. Alternatively, a label bearing the data may be adhesively fixed to the tab; to protect the upper edge of the label from careless handling, it is preferable for the tab to have a 4)eripheral bead standing proud of the said face along the upper edge of the tab, preferably along the entire edge of the tab The crosspiece is preferably a plastics moulding and the hook is preferably a metal hook whose shank is embedded in the plastics. A preferred moulding has a web and a peripheral flange projecting from one side of the web, the face of the tab being flush with the flange or, preferably, being recessed with respect to the flange.

The invention will be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a garment hanger; Figure 2 is a section on line 11-11 of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a section similar to Figure 2 for another embodiment.

The garment hanger illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 has a moulded plastics crosspiece 1 comprising a web 2 and peripheral flanges 3 and 3' projecting from respective sides of the web. A steel suspension hook 4 has a shank 6 which extends from the crosspiece 1, being embedded in an enlarged portion 7 of the web 2. A tab 8 in the form of a disc is moulded integrally with the crosspiece 1 at the point at which the shank 6 extends from the crosspiece and is integral with the enlarged portion 7. The face 9 of the tab 8 is recessed with respect to the flange 3 and bears a size-indication number printed, stamped, or embossed on it or carried by a self-adhesive label. The face 9 is circular, except that a segment is removed to ensure correct positioning of a label of corresponding shape.

It will be seen that the thickness of the tab 8 is less than the overall width of the crosspiece, including the upper flanges 3 and 3' so that there is a significant clearance behind the tab 8. This clearance enables the front face of the tab 8 on an adjacent hanger to be seen even if the hangers are close together on a rail.

The hanger illustrated in Figure 3 has a separate tab 8 removably fixed in an approximately semicircular slot 16 moulded in the crosspiece 1. Along its upper edge the tab 8 has a peripheral bead 17 standing proud of the front face of the tab, to protect the upper edge of a label adhering to the face.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention: for instance, the shape of the crosspiece may be varied to suit the garment, and the shape of the tab may be varied, depending on the data to be displayed on its face. Furthermore, the tab 8 shown in Figure 1 could be provided, around its entire edge, with a bead standing 0.5 mm proud of the face of the tab, to protect the edge of a label adhering to its face.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A garment hanger comprising a crosspiece and a suspension hook having a shank which extends from the crosspiece.

the crosspiece being provided with a tab having an upstanding face for bearing alphanumeric data, the tab being immediately adjacent the point at which the shank extends from the crosspiece and projecting above the crosspiece, the tab being of less thickness than the width of the crosspiece in the region of the tab and there being a clearance above the crosspiece adjacent the face of the tab opposite to the data bearing face.

2. A hanger as claimed in claim 1, in which the crosspiece is a plastics moulding.

3. A hanger as claimed in claim 2, in which the hook is a metal hook whose shank is embedded in the plastics.

4. A hanger as claimed in claim 2 or 3, in which the moulding has a web and a peripheral flange projecting from one side of the web the data bearing face of the tab being flush with the flange or being recessed with respect to the flange.

5. A hanger as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which the tab is integral with the crosspiece.

6. A hanger as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the tab is separate from the crosspiece and is fixed to it.

7. A hanger as claimed in claim 6, in which the tab is received in an upwardlyopen slot in the crosspiece.

8. A hanger as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, in which the tab has a peripheral bead standing proud of the said face, along at least the upper edge of the tab.

9. A garment hanger substantially as described herein with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 and 2, or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. tab 8 is less than the overall width of the crosspiece, including the upper flanges 3 and 3' so that there is a significant clearance behind the tab 8. This clearance enables the front face of the tab 8 on an adjacent hanger to be seen even if the hangers are close together on a rail. The hanger illustrated in Figure 3 has a separate tab 8 removably fixed in an approximately semicircular slot 16 moulded in the crosspiece 1. Along its upper edge the tab 8 has a peripheral bead 17 standing proud of the front face of the tab, to protect the upper edge of a label adhering to the face. Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention: for instance, the shape of the crosspiece may be varied to suit the garment, and the shape of the tab may be varied, depending on the data to be displayed on its face. Furthermore, the tab 8 shown in Figure 1 could be provided, around its entire edge, with a bead standing 0.5 mm proud of the face of the tab, to protect the edge of a label adhering to its face. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A garment hanger comprising a crosspiece and a suspension hook having a shank which extends from the crosspiece.

the crosspiece being provided with a tab having an upstanding face for bearing alphanumeric data, the tab being immediately adjacent the point at which the shank extends from the crosspiece and projecting above the crosspiece, the tab being of less thickness than the width of the crosspiece in the region of the tab and there being a clearance above the crosspiece adjacent the face of the tab opposite to the data bearing face.

2. A hanger as claimed in claim 1, in which the crosspiece is a plastics moulding.

3. A hanger as claimed in claim 2, in which the hook is a metal hook whose shank is embedded in the plastics.

4. A hanger as claimed in claim 2 or 3, in which the moulding has a web and a peripheral flange projecting from one side of the web the data bearing face of the tab being flush with the flange or being recessed with respect to the flange.

5. A hanger as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which the tab is integral with the crosspiece.

6. A hanger as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the tab is separate from the crosspiece and is fixed to it.

7. A hanger as claimed in claim 6, in which the tab is received in an upwardlyopen slot in the crosspiece.

8. A hanger as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, in which the tab has a peripheral bead standing proud of the said face, along at least the upper edge of the tab.

9. A garment hanger substantially as described herein with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 and 2, or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.