# US 2019/0174940 A1 · Garment hangers and sizers and method for reusing the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0174940 A1 - Document ID: US20190174940A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/217,473 - Filed: 2018-12-12 - Published: 2019-06-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-13 - Assignees: Braiform (Hk) Ltd. - Applicants: Braiform (Hk) Ltd - Inventors: Michael WARREN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190174940A1 ## CPC - A47G 25/1414: {connected to the hook member} - A47G 25/1421: {at the top} - A47G 2200/125: indicator - A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B) ## Abstract A garment hanger and a sizer that can be removably mounted to the hanger are provided. The sizer includes a pair of inwardly extending fingers for mounting the sizer to a hook or a body of the hanger. The sizer can be manually or automatically removed from the sizer by a tool, by inserting the tool into a space between the hanger and a respective inwardly extending finger. The hanger and the sizer enable a method of reusing hangers and sizers, by automatically removing the sizers from the hangers, processing the removed hangers and sizers to provide reusable hangers and sizers. The reusable hangers and sizers are distributed to remote garment manufacturers for providing garment-on-hanger products. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A garment hanger comprising: 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 a sizer to the hanger, wherein the sizer is provided with indicia for displaying at least one characteristic of the garment; 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 formed 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 formed 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 first slope is configured to guide the movement of the sizer, the ledge is configured to engage the sizer for attaching the sizer to the sizer attachment structure, and the second slope is configured to provide a space for removing the sizer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein the space is provided between the second slope and an inwardly extending finger of the sizer to allow insertion of a removal tool for manually or automatically removing the sizer from the hanger; and wherein the sizer attachment structure further comprises a third slope and a transitioning surface provided at the front side of the web, the third slope extending toward the lower flange, the transitioning surface distancing the third slope from the second slope, the third slope and the transitioning surface facilitating the insertion of the removal tool into the space. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein the sizer attachment structure further comprises a substantially upright surface provided at the rear side of the web and a supporting surface formed angularly with respect to the substantially upright surface; and wherein the substantially upright surface is configured to guide the movement of the sizer and wherein the supporting surface is configured to support a lower end of the sizer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein the sizer attachment structure is comprised by the hook of the hanger. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The garment hanger according to claim 4, wherein the hook comprises a curved portion and a straight portion; and wherein the sizer attachment structure is provided at the curved portion of the hook and the web of the sizer attachment structure substantially follows the curvature of the curve portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein the sizer attachment structure is comprised by the body of the hanger. ### Claim 7 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The sizer according to claim 7, wherein the first inwardly extending finger is formed on an inner surface of the front panel; and wherein the first inwardly extending finger comprises: a first engaging surface formed angularly with respect to the inner surface of the front panel; and a first sloped surface formed angularly with respect to the first engaging surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The sizer according to claim 8, wherein the first engaging surface is formed substantially perpendicular to the inner surface of the front panel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The sizer according to claim 7, further comprising a second inwardly extending finger formed adjacent the bottom edge of the rear panel, wherein the second inwardly extending finger operatively engage the portion of the hanger; wherein the second inwardly extending finger is formed on an inner surface of the rear panel; and wherein the second inwardly extending finger comprises: a second engaging surface formed angularly with respect to the inner surface of the rear panel; and a second sloped surface formed angularly with respect to the second engaging surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The sizer according to claim 10, wherein the second engaging surface is formed substantially perpendicular to the inner surface of the rear panel. ### Claim 12 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. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The combination according to claim 12, wherein the first inwardly extending finger is formed on an inner surface of the front panel; wherein the first inwardly extending finger comprises: a first engaging surface formed angularly with respect to the inner surface of the front panel, and a first sloped surface formed angularly with respect to the first engaging surface; wherein, when the sizer is being attached to the sizer attachment structure of the hanger, the first slope of the web engages the first sloped surface of the first inwardly extending finger to resiliently expand the space between the front panel and the rear panel, thereby admitting the first slope of the web between the front panel and the rear panel; and wherein, once the first slope of the web is admitted between the front panel and the rear panel, the first engaging surface of the first inwardly extending finger engages the ledge of the web to attach the sizer to the hanger in a secure yet removable manner and a space is provided between the first sloped surface of the first inwardly extending finger and first slope of the sizer attachment structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The combination according to claim 13, wherein a removal tool is insertable into the space to release the engagement between the first slope of the web and the first sloped surface of the first inwardly extending finger; wherein the sizer attachment structure further comprises a third slope and a transitioning surface provided at the front side of the web, the third slope extending toward the lower flange and the transitioning surface distancing the third slope from the second slope; and wherein the third slope and the transitioning surface facilitate the insertion of the removal tool into the space. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The combination according to claim 12, wherein the first engaging surface of the first inwardly extending finger of the sizer is formed substantially perpendicular to the inner surface of the front panel of the sizer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The combination according to claim 12, wherein the sizer attachment structure further comprises a substantially upright surface provided at the rear side of the web and a supporting surface formed angularly with respect to the substantially upright surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The combination according to claim 12, wherein the sizer further comprises a second inwardly extending finger formed adjacent the bottom edge of the rear panel of the sizer and on an inner surface of the rear panel; and wherein the second inwardly extending finger comprises: a second engaging surface formed angularly with respect to the inner surface of the rear panel, and a second sloped surface formed angularly with respect to the second engaging surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The combination according to claim 17, wherein the second engaging surface of the sizer is formed substantially perpendicular to the inner surface of the rear panel of the sizer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The combination according to claim 12, wherein the sizer attachment structure is comprised by the hook or the body of the hanger. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The combination according to claim 16, wherein the sizer further comprises a second inwardly extending finger formed adjacent the bottom edge of the rear panel of the sizer and on an inner surface of the rear panel; wherein the second inwardly extending finger comprises: a second engaging surface formed angularly with respect to the inner surface of the rear panel, and a second sloped surface formed angularly with respect to the second engaging surface; wherein the second engaging surface is configured to engage the upright surface of the sizer attachment structure, when the sizer is being attached to the sizer attachment structure of the hanger; and wherein the bottom edge of the rear panel of the sizer sits on the supporting surface of the sizer attachment structure, once the sizer is attached to the hanger. ### Claim 21 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. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method according to claim 21, further comprising shipping the plurality of garment-on-hanger products to a regional distribution center or a plurality of retail stores. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method according to claim 21, further comprising: returning a definable percentage of hanger-and-sizer combinations from the plurality of retail stores to the regional distribution center; shipping the definable percentage of hanger-and-sizer combinations to a recycle center; at the recycle center, automatically removing the sizers from the definable percentage of hanger-and-sizer combinations to provide a second plurality of selected hangers and a second plurality of selected sizers for reuse; shipping the second plurality of selected hangers and the second plurality of selected sizers to the hanger distribution center, wherein the second plurality of selected hangers and the second plurality of selected sizers are processed to provide a second plurality of sorted hangers and a second plurality of sorted sizers; shipping the second plurality of sorted hangers and the second plurality of sorted sizers to the plurality of remote garment manufacturers, wherein the second plurality of sorted hangers and the second plurality of sorted sizers are reused to provide a second plurality of garment-on-hanger products; and shipping the second plurality of garment-on-hanger products to the regional distribution center or the plurality of retail stores. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method according to claim 23, further comprising, prior to the returning the definable percentage of hanger-and-sizer combinations: shipping a plurality of hangers from a hanger manufacturing center to a plurality of garment manufacturers at scattered geographic locals; shipping a plurality of sizers from a sizer manufacturing center to the plurality of garment manufacturers, wherein the plurality of sizers are configured to be removably attached to the plurality of hangers, respectively; at the plurality of garment manufacturers, attaching the plurality of sizers to the plurality of hangers respectively, thereby providing a plurality of hanger-and-sizer combinations; at the plurality of garment manufacturers, assembling the plurality of garments to the plurality of hanger-and-sizer combinations respectively, thereby providing the first plurality of garment-on-hanger products each; shipping the first plurality of garment-on-hanger products to the regional distribution center; shipping the first plurality of garment-on-hanger products from the regional distribution center to the plurality of retail stores at scattered geographic locals, wherein the garments are at least partially sold to consumers and consequently removed from the first plurality of garment-on-hanger products at the plurality of retail stores. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method of reusing hangers and sizers according to claim 23, further comprising repeating all the steps to form a plurality of loops of reusing hangers and sizers. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of reusing hangers and sizers according to claim 25, wherein the plurality of loops of reusing hangers and sizers comprises 2-6 loops. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The method of reusing hangers and sizers according to claim 23, wherein the automatically removing the sizers from the definable percentage of hanger-and-sizer combinations to provide the plurality of selected hangers and the plurality of selected sizers for reuse at the recycle center further comprises inspecting, cleaning, sorting and packing the removed sizers and the hangers. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) The method of reusing hangers and sizers according to claim 23, wherein the hanger manufacturing center, the sizer manufacturing center and the plurality of garment manufacturers can be located offshore and the regional distribution center and the plurality of retail stores can be located in the United States. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) The method of reusing hangers and sizers according to claim 23, wherein the hanger distribution center is located offshore. ### Claim 30 (depends on 23) The method of reusing hangers and sizers according to claim 23, wherein the definable percentage of hanger-and-sizer combinations ranges from 65% to 95% of the hanger-and-sizer combinations of the first plurality of garment-on-hanger products. ### Claim 31 (depends on 23) The method of reusing hangers and sizers according to claim 23, wherein the number of the plurality of selected hangers for reuse ranges from 50% to 80% of the number of the hangers of the first plurality of garment-on-hanger products. ### Claim 32 (depends on 22) The method of reusing hangers and sizers according to claim 22, wherein the number of the plurality of selected sizers for reuse ranges from 50% to 80% of the number of the sizers of the first plurality of garment-on-hanger products. ### Claim 33 (depends on 23) The method of reusing hangers and sizers according to claim 23, wherein the definable percentage of hanger-and-sizer combinations are shipped to the recycle center after being packed into a plurality of hanger boxes, the plurality of hangers boxes each comprising a respective bar code; wherein, at the recycle center, the hanger boxes are weighed and the barcodes of the hanger boxes are scanned for collecting data usable to monitor the return rate of the hangers and sizers. ### Claim 34 A method of attaching a sizer to a hanger having a sizer attachment structure, the method comprising: moving an inwardly extending finger of the sizer along a slope of the sizer attachment structure; and after the inwardly extending finger passes the slope, engaging the inwardly extending finger with a ledge of the sizer attachment structure to positively attach the sizer to the sizer attachment structure. ### Claim 35 A method of removing a sizer attached to a sizer attachment structure of a hanger, the method comprising: manipulating the sizer to release an engagement between an inwardly extending finger of the sizer and a ledge of the sizer attachment structure; and moving the sizer away from the sizer attachment structure to remove the sizer from the hanger. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The method of removing according to claim 35, wherein the manipulating the sizer to release the engagement comprises manually manipulating the sizer to release the engagement between the inwardly extending finger and the ledge. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The method of removing according to claim 36, wherein the manually manipulating the sizer to release the engagement comprises manually manipulating the sizer with a tool. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The method of removing according to claim 36, wherein the manually manipulating the sizer to release the engagement comprises manually manipulating the sizer with a finger of a user. ### Claim 39 (depends on 35) The method of removing according to claim 35, wherein the manipulating the sizer to release the engagement comprises automatically manipulating the sizer to release the engagement between the inwardly extending finger and the ledge. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The method of removing according to claim 39, wherein the automatically manipulating the sizer to release the engagement comprises automatically manipulating the sizer with a tool.