GB2343374A

GB2343374A - Footwear hanger

Info

Publication number: GB2343374A
Application number: GB9924861A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Michael Woodworth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-10-21
Filing date: 1999-10-21
Publication date: 2000-05-10
Anticipated expiration: 2019-10-21
Also published as: GB2343374B; GB9924861D0; GB9822929D0

Abstract

A footwear display hanger (10) comprises a stem (12) having a hook (14) at one end and a pair of shoe supporting formations (16) extending from opposite sides of the stem, the shoe supporting formations comprising a pair of limbs (30,32), one connected to the stem and the other spaced from but resiliently connected to the first.

Description

TITLE : Footwear Hanger DESCRIPTION This invention concerns a footwear hanger.

Footwear hangers are used primarily for displaying footwear in retail outlets.

Various designs of footwear hangers are available for displaying different types of footwear. For shoes, hangers are available having a stem with shoe supporting formations extending on opposite sides of the stem, the shoe supporting formations having a part to fit inside the toe part of a shoe. However, such hangers are not suitable for footwear, such as sandals or flip-flops, which do not have toe covering uppers but rather straps or the like to hold them onto a wearer's foot. Hook-like hangers are available for such footwear, so that they can be supported by a strap or strap connection for display purposes.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved footwear display hanger.

According to this invention there is provided a footwear display hanger comprising a stem having means for supporting the stem and a pair of shoe supporting formations extending from opposite sides of the stem, the shoe supporting formations comprising a pair of limbs, one limb connected to the stem and the second spaced from but resiliently connected to the first limb.

The means for supporting the stem may be a hook formation conveniently at a top end of the stem, whereby the hanger can be supported on a rail or bar.

Alternatively or additionally, a slot may be provided in the stem, conveniently in an upper part of the stem, whereby the hanger can be supported on for example, a bar or the like. The slot is preferably of the"Euro"slot type. Within the slot it may be convenient to include a tab or the like to which product information can be attached.

The tab may have a hole in it through which a tie for a product information tag or label can be fastened.

The first and second limbs of the shoe supporting formations are preferably connected by one or more resilient links, whereby the two limbs may exhibit a spring action between them. Preferably the one or more resilient links are positioned whereby movement of one end of the second limb towards the other limb causes movement of the opposite end away from the first limb. The resilient links are preferably arcuate and may include spring members, such as metal strips.

The first limb preferably has its top end curved outwards and the second limb preferably has it top end curved inwards but spaced above the curved end of the first limb. The space between the two limbs may allow a strap of an item of footwear to be inserted between the two limbs and hung from the link between them. The curving of the two limbs preferably provides a suitable shape for insertion into the toe of an item of footwear, whereby the item hangs therefrom. The bottom end of the second limb may be inserted into the heel area of the item of footwear. The resilient linkage between the two limbs means that as the top ends of the limbs are pushed towards each other as they are inserted into the toe of the footwear item, the lower end of the second limb is urged outwards to press against the inside of the footwear item in its heel region.

The first and second limbs are preferably also resiliently movable relative to the stem in a direction normal to the plane of the stem and the limbs.

The second limb preferably has a hook formation at its bottom end, on which footwear item may be hung for display purposes.

The stem of the hanger may also include a shield area, whereby product information may be provided, such as on adhesive labels.

The footwear hanger of the invention is preferably moulded of plastics material and may include reinforcing ribbing as necessary, ideally on what will in use be the reverse face of the hanger.

This invention will now be further described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a footwear hanger; and Figure 2 is a rear view of the footwear hanger of Figure 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, a footwear hanger 10 has a substantially central stem 12 having a hook 14 at its top end and shoe supporting formations 16 extending from opposite sides of the bottom end of the stem. The footwear hanger 10 is intended to be moulded from plastics material and there will be some flexibility of movement of the shoe supporting formations both towards and away from the stem in its plane and transversely of said plane.

The stem 12 also has, below its hook 14, a shield 18 on which product information can be provided such as on an adhesive label. Below the shield 18 the stem 12 widens to accommodate a slot 20, especially of the"Euro"siot type, to allow the hanger to be support on a bar type support rather than on a hanger rail. The widening of the stem provides wings 22, the purpose of which will be described later.

The shoe supporting formations 16 each have a first upwardly extending limb 30 which is curved outwards at its top end. The limb 30 is connected to a second limb 32 by means of a resilient arcuate links 34,36. The links 34,36 provide a spring action for the second limb. It is possible that the spring action of the resilient links can be enhanced by moulding in spring metal strips, rods or the like.

The second limb 32 has its top end extending higher than the first limb and curving inwards i. e. towards the stem, Thus, the top ends of the first and second limbs are spaced. At its bottom end the second limb has a hook formation 38.

Within the siot is a tab 40 with a hole 42 therein for attachment thereto of price code tags or the like by means of, for example, plastics ties.

For strength the hanger is provided with ribbing on its intended rear face i. e. the face that will not be normally seen by customers other than on close inspection. The hanger has a perimetral ribbing 44 around most of its rear face except for its shield, top hook and bottom areas as well as other minor areas, such as parts of the hooks 38.

Ribbing 44 is actually provided on the front of the bottom end of the stem. That allows hangers to nest neatly front to back and so on for ease of transportation.

The footwear hanger 10 may be used in a variety of ways. The hanger can be used for displaying shoes and trainers. A shoe or trainer is fitted to the hanger by inserting the top ends of the limbs 30,33 into the toe of the shoe so that the upper of the shoe is facing towards i. e. in the same direction as the front of the hanger. The bottom end of the second limb 32 is then fitted inside the heel of the shoe. Because of the spring action provided by the resilient links, as the top end of the second limb 32 is urged inwards by the shoe's toe end, the bottom end of the second limb 32 is urged outwards to improve the grip against the inner side of the shoe.

Slippers can be supported on the hanger in a similar way, the resilient links providing a spring action to urge the two limbs outwards against any compression exerted thereon by the slippers.

Shoes or sandals with straps, such as flip-flops, may be supported in different ways depending on their style. The lower hook formation 38 on the second limbs provide locations for hanging shoes or sandals, such as flip-flops, by their straps.

Altematively, the space between the top ends of the first and second limbs provides a hook-like location for receiving straps of sandals, flip-flops and the like, the straps actually resting on the top resilient link 34 between the two limbs 30,32.

For heavy footwear, which are fitted to the hanger in the same way as shoes or trainers, the hanger can be counter-balanced by pulling the stem 12 rearwards relative to the limbs and positioning the wings 22 behind the heels of the shoes.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A footwear display hanger comprising a stem having means for supporting the stem and a pair of shoe supporting formations extending from opposite sides of the stem, the shoe supporting formations comprising a pair of limbs, one limb connected to the stem and the second spaced from but resiliently connected to the first limb.
2. A hanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for supporting the stem is a hook formation.
3. A hanger as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hook formation is at a top end of the stem.
4. A hanger as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3 having a slot in the stem for receiving a supporting bar or the like.
5. A hanger as claimed in claim 4, wherein the slot includes a tab or the like for attachment of a product information tag or label.
6. A hanger as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first and second resilient limbs are connected by one or more resilient links, whereby the two limbs exhibit a spring action between them.
7. A hanger as claimed in claim 6, wherein one or more of the resilient links are positioned whereby movement of one end of the second limb towards the other limb causes movement of the opposite end away from the first limb.
8. A hanger as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the resilient links are arcuate.
9. A hanger as claimed in claim 8, wherein the resilient links include spring members.
10. A hanger as claimed in claim 9, wherein the spring members are metal strips.
11. A hanger as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first limb has its top end curved outwards.
12. A hanger as claimed in claimed in claim 11, wherein the second limb has its top end curved inwards but spaced above the curved end of the first limb.
13. A hanger as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the first and second limbs are resiliently movable relative to the stem in a direction normal to the plane of the stem and the limbs.
14. A hanger as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the second limb has a hook formation at its bottom end.
15. A hanger as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 moulded from plastics material.
16. A hanger as claimed in claim 15 having reinforcing ribbing on one face thereof.
17. A footwear display hanger substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.