Garment hanger with reusable lower neck sizer
AssigneeSpotless Plastics Pty. Ltd.
InventorStanley F. Gouldson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a combination of a garment hanger and a reusable indicator for displaying garment-related information, the indicator can be attached to and removed from a lower neck region of the hanger where a hanger post intersects the hanger body. The hanger includes an indicator retaining member for providing indicator retaining interference with the indicator to retain the indicator at the lower neck region. The hanger further includes structure for providing pivots upon which the indicator can be flexed to remove the indicator from the hanger. The indicator can include a discontinuity for admitting a hanger hook and assisting deformation of the indicator. The indicator can be deformed along the discontinuity to remove the indicator from the hanger.
Claims66
A garment hanger comprising:
- a hanger body having a first lateral width;
- a post extending upwardly from the body and a hook retained in the post, the intersection of the post and the hanger body defining a lower neck region of the hanger;
- at least one indicator retaining member vertically distanced form the hanger body and extending outwardly from the post for retaining an indicator at the lower neck region;
- at least one strut angularly disposed between the post and the body, the strut comprising a bottom end having a second lateral width substantially equal to the first lateral width;
- and
- at least one projection disposed on an outer surface of the post.
A reusable lower neck indicator comprising:
- a pair of opposite sidewalls connected by a pair of end walls for providing a substantially trapezoidal indicator body having four lower corners;
- a top opening at the top end of the indicator and a bottom opening at the bottom end of the indicator;
- and
- at least one elevation disposed on an inner surface of the sidewalls adjacent one of the four lower corners.
A combination comprising:
- a hanger comprising:
- a hanger body having a first lateral width;
- a post extending upward from the body and a hook retained in the post, the intersection of the post and the hanger body defining a lower neck region of the hanger;
- at least one indicator retaining member vertically distanced form the hanger body and extending outwardly from the post;
- at least one strut angularly disposed between the post and the body, the strut comprising a bottom end having a second lateral width substantially equal to the first lateral width;
- and at least one projection disposed on an outer surface of the post, and
- an indicator removably attachable to the lower neck region of the hanger for displaying information, comprising:
- a pair of opposite sidewalls connected by a pair of end walls for providing a substantially trapezoidal body of the indicator having four corners;
- a top opening and a bottom opening at the top end and the bottom end of the indicator, respectively;
- and at least one elevation disposed on an inner surface of the sidewalls adjacent one of the four corners,
- wherein the at least one indicator retaining member provides indicator retaining interference with the indicator to retain the indicator at the lower neck region,
- wherein, when the indicator is attached to the lower neck region of the hanger, the at least one elevation is positioned against the bottom end of the strut to provide a pivot upon which deformation of the indicator can be actuated, and
- wherein, when the indicator is attached to the lower neck region of the hanger, the at least one projection is positioned against one of the sidewalls to provide a pivot upon which deformation of the indicator can be actuated.
A method for removing an indicator from a hanger, the hanger comprising a hanger body, a post extending upwardly from the hanger body and an indicator retaining member associated with the post for engaging the indicator to position the indicator at a lower neck region of the hanger defined by the intersection of the hanger body and the post, said method comprising:
- providing at least one pivot on the hanger upon which the indicator is capable of being resiliently flexed;
- flexing the indicator with respect to the pivot to disengage the indicator from the indicator retaining member;
- and
- separating the indicator from the hanger.
A method for manipulating a garment hanger and an indicator mountable to a lower neck region of a garment hanger, the hanger comprising a hanger body, a post extending upwardly from the hanger body for receiving a hanger hook therein and an indicator retaining member associated with the post for engaging the indicator, the intersection of the hanger body and the post defining the lower neck region of the hanger, said method comprising:
- feeding the indicator over the hook of the hanger;
- sliding the indicator downwardly along the hook to approach the indicator retaining member;
- engaging the indicator with the indicator retaining member to resiliently expand a top opening of the indicator and to allow the indicator to pass over the indicator retaining structure;
- positioning the indicator at the lower neck region;
- providing at least one pivot on the hanger upon which the indicator is capable of being resiliently flexed;
- flexing the indicator with respect to the pivot to disengage the indicator from the indicator retaining member;
- and
- separating the indicator from the hanger.
A method of attaching an indicator to a lower neck region of a hanger, the hanger comprising a hanger body, a post extending upwardly from the hanger body for receiving a hanger hook therein and an indicator retaining member associated with the post for engaging the indicator, the intersection of the hanger body and the post defining the lower neck region of the hanger, the indicator having a top opening and a bottom opening, said method comprising:
- providing a discontinuity for the indicator continuous with the top opening and the bottom opening, the discontinuity being dimensioned to admit the hook;
- inserting the hook into an admitting end of the discontinuity;
- moving the hook along the discontinuity to allow the hook to be positioned within the top opening and the bottom opening;
- manipulating the indicator to engage the indicator with the indicator retaining member;
- and
- expanding the top opening of the indicator through the engagement between the indicator and the indicator retaining member to position the indicator at the lower neck region.
A method of removing an indicator from a lower neck region of a hanger, the hanger comprising a hanger body, a post extending upwardly from the hanger body for receiving a hanger hook therein and an indicator retaining member associated with the post for engaging the indicator, the intersection of the hanger body and the post defining the lower neck region of the hanger, the indicator having a top opening and a bottom opening, said method comprising:
- providing a discontinuity for the indicator continuous with the top opening and the bottom opening;
- flexing the indicator to partially deform the indicator along the discontinuity of the indicator;
- disengaging the indicator from the indicator retaining member of the hanger upon the deformation of the indicator;
- and
- separating the indicator from the hanger.
A method of manipulating a garment hanger and an indicator mountable to a lower neck region of a garment hanger, the hanger comprising a hanger body, a post extending upwardly from the hanger body for receiving a hanger hook therein and an indicator retaining member associated with the post for engaging the indicator, the intersection of the hanger body and the post defining the lower neck region of the hanger, the indicator having a top opening and a bottom opening, said method comprising:
- providing a discontinuity for the indicator continuous with the top opening and the bottom opening, the discontinuity being dimensioned to admit the hook;
- inserting the hook into an admitting end of the discontinuity;
- moving the hook along the discontinuity to allow the hook to be positioned within the top opening and the bottom opening;
- manipulating the indicator to engage the indicator with the indicator retaining member;
- expanding the top opening of the indicator through the engagement between the indicator and the indicator retaining member to position the indicator at the lower neck region;
- flexing the indicator to partially deform the indicator along the discontinuity of the indicator;
- disengaging the indicator from the indicator retaining member of the hanger upon the deformation of the indicator;
- and
- separating the indicator from the hanger.
A reusable lower neck indicator comprising:
- a pair of opposite sidewalls connected by a pair of end walls for providing a substantially trapezoidal indicator body having four lower corners;
- a top opening at the top end of the indicator and a bottom opening at the bottom end of the indicator;
- and
- at least one discontinuity communicating the top opening and the bottom opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.