Garment hangers and sizers and method for reusing the same

A sizer suitable for attachment to a portion of a hanger, the sizer comprising:

• a front panel and a rear panel substantially parallel to each other, each panel comprising a top edge and an opposite bottom edge;
• a middle panel connecting the top edge of the front panel and the top edge of the rear panel, wherein the front panel, the rear panel and the middle panel together form a sizer body for operatively receiving the portion of the hanger;
• and
• a first inwardly extending finger formed adjacent the bottom edge of the front panel, wherein the first inwardly extending finger operatively engages the portion of the hanger for attaching the sizer to the hanger in a secure yet removable manner.

A combination of a garment hanger and a sizer suitable for attachment to the garment hanger,

• wherein the garment hanger comprises:
• a body for hanging and displaying a garment;
• a hook extending upright from the body for engaging a supporting means;
• and
• a sizer attachment structure configured to removably attach the sizer to the hanger, wherein the sizer is provided with indicia for displaying at least one characteristic of the garment;
• and
• wherein the sizer attachment structure comprises:
• a web extending from a lower flange of the hanger, the web comprising a front side and an opposite rear side;
• a first slope provided at the front side of the web and extending toward the lower flange;
• a ledge formed at the lower terminus of the first slope and angularly with respect to the first slope at the front side of the web;
• and
• a second slope continuous with the ledge and extending toward the lower flange;
• and
• wherein the sizer comprises:
• a front panel and a rear panel substantially parallel to each other, each panel comprising a top edge and an opposite bottom edge;
• a middle panel connecting the top edge of the front panel and top edge of the rear panel, wherein the front panel, the rear panel and the middle panel together form a sizer body for operatively receiving a portion of the hanger;
• and
• a first inwardly extending finger formed adjacent the bottom edge of the front panel,
• wherein, when the sizer is being attached to the sizer attachment structure of the sizer attachment structure, the first slope of the web guides the movement of the first inwardly extending finger to allow secure yet removable engagement between the first inwardly extending finger of the sizer and the ledge of the sizer attachment structure.

A method of reusing hangers and sizers, comprising:

• collecting a plurality of hanger-and-sizer combinations each comprising a sizer removably attached to a respective hanger;
• automatically removing the sizers from the hangers to provide a plurality of hangers and a plurality of sizers;
• shipping the plurality of hangers and the plurality of sizers to a hanger distribution center, wherein the plurality of hangers and the plurality of sizers are processed at the hanger distribution center to provide a plurality of sorted hangers and a plurality of sorted sizers;
• and
• shipping the plurality of sorted hangers and the plurality of sorted sizers to a plurality of remote garment manufacturers at remote locations, wherein the plurality of sorted hangers and the plurality of sorted sizers are reused at the plurality of remote garment manufacturers to provide a plurality of garment-on-hanger products.