Garment hanger

Abstract

A garment hanger (10) to attach a garment to a rack or rail to inhibit removal of the garment. The hanger (10) includes a garment support portion consisting of a pair of diverging arms (11). Attached to the arms (11) is an engaging portion (12) that would include an engaging portion (12) in the form of an eyelet assembly. The engaging portion (12) is assembled about the rack or rail so that the hanger (10) is inhibited from removal therefrom.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to garment hangers and more particularly but not exclusively to coat hangers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Particularly in relation to the expensive clothing items such as coats and suits, it is not uncommon to have attached to the garment a security tag. These tags are designed to activate an alarm system should the tag pass adjacent a detector at the exit of the store.

[0003] A problem with the above discussed security system is that once the garment is removed from a hanger and taken for example to a fitting room, it is possible to tamper with the tags and make them inoperative.

[0004] Accordingly, in respect of the above described security system it is still possible for garments to be pilfered.

[0005] Besides being insecure the garment cannot be rotated for display purposes.

[0006] A further problem is that the garment can be removed from a supporting rail.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] There is disclosed herein a garment hanger including:

[0009] a garment support portion over which a garment is draped so as to be supported thereby;

[0010] an engaging portion fixed to the support portion and to secure the hanger to a structure from which the hanger is to be suspended; and

[0011] a securing portion depending from the support portion, the securing portion having an aperture to co-operate with a security tag so that a portion of the tag passes through the garment and said aperture so as to secure the garment to the hanger.

[0012] In a preferred form the garment hanger is a coat hanger and said support portion is a pair of arms that diverge from said engaging portion.

[0013] In a further preferred form said engaging portion is an eyelet.

[0014] Preferably the eyelet includes a first portion having ends separated by a gap and a closure portion to be secured to the first portion to at least substantially close the gap.

[0015] Preferably the closure portion extends between the ends to completely close the gap.

[0016] Preferably the closure portion includes a first part having projections and a second part having apertures, which first and second portion when secured together are generally coextensive with the projections received within the apertures to inhibit separation of the parts and therefore close the gap.

[0017] In a further preferred form said securing portion is a strip.

[0018] In a further preferred form said engaging portion includes all eyelet through which the structure is to pass so that the hanger is captively located with respect to the structure to thereby secure the hanger to the structure.

[0019] Preferably, the first and second parts engage to inhibit their separation.

[0020] Preferably, said first part includes at least one aperture and said second part includes at least one barb that is received within the aperture to secure the second part to the first part, with the barb engaging in the aperture of the first part to inhibit separation is of the first and second parts.

[0021] Preferably, the first and second parts are each of a “hook” configuration so that each has a hook portion, which hook portions when secured together complete set eyelet.

[0022] Preferably, each portion includes an extremity, which extremities engage to inhibit their separation.

[0023] Preferably, said garment support portion is attached to said engaging portion to provide for angular relative movement therebetween.

[0024] Preferably, said hanger includes a shaft extending between and attaching the garment support portion to the engaging portion to provide for said angular movement.

[0025] There is further disclosed herein a garment hanger including:

[0026] a garment support portion over which a garment is draped so as to be supported thereby;

[0027] an engaging portion fixed to the support portion and to secure the hanger to a structure from which the hanger is to be suspended; and wherein

[0028] the engaging portion includes an eyelet through which the structure is to pass so that the hanger is captively attached to the structure, said eyelet including a first part and a second part, which parts are secured together by being assembled about said structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0029] A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0030] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a coat hanger;

[0031] FIG. 2 is a schematic front elevation of the hanger of FIG. 1;

[0032] FIG. 3 is a schematic part sectioned side elevation of portion of the hanger of FIG. 1 and portion of a garment secured thereto;

[0033] FIG. 4 is a schematic elevation of a modification of the hanger of FIGS. 1 to 3;

[0034] FIG. 5 is a schematic parts exploded perspective view of a clip employed in the hanger of FIG. 4;

[0035] FIG. 6 is a schematic elevation of a securing ring to be employed with the hanger of FIG. 1; and

[0036] FIG. 7 is a schematic isometric view of an eyelet assembly that may be used with the garment hangers of FIGS. 1 and 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0037] In FIGS. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a garment hanger 10. The garment hanger 10 of this embodiment is a coat hanger that includes a garment support portion consisting of a pair of arms 11. The arms 11 diverge from an engaging portion 12 that secures the hanger 10 to a rack to inhibit removal therefrom.

[0038] The arms 11 diverge downwardly from a stem 13 that attaches the eyelet 14 to the arms 11.

[0039] Located generally below the stem 13 and between the arms 11 is a securing portion 14 that is in the form of a strip 15. The strip is has at its lower end an aperture 16.

[0040] Typically the hanger 10 would be manufactured from metal such as wire.

[0041] In the above described hanger 10 a coat is draped over the arms 11 so that portion 17 of the coat is positioned adjacent to the strip 15. A security tag 18 including a body 19 with a pin 20 engages the garment so that the pin 20 passes through the aperture 16 of the strip 15 and the coat portion 17. A securing cap 21 is then placed over the pin 20 so as to be secured to the body 19. Accordingly the garment is secured to the hanger 10, with the hanger 10 then secured to a supporting rail via the eyelet 14. Accordingly the hanger 10 inhibits unauthorised removal of the garment from a rack supporting the hanger 10.

[0042] In FIGS. 4 and 5 there is schematically depicted a modification of the hanger 10 of FIGS. 1 to 3. In this embodiment the eyelet 14 includes a first part 17 that has ends 18 separated by a gap 19. Closing the gap 19 is a closure portion 20 which in this embodiment is a clip. The closure portion 20 includes a first part 21 that is elongated and arcuate and a second part 22 that is also elongated and arcuate so as to be complimentary in configuration to the part 21. The part 21 has projections 23 that are received within apertures 24 of the second part 22. More particularly the projections 23 are an interference fit in the apertures 24 so that when the parts 21 and 22 are secured together, so as to be generally coextensive, their separation is prevented or at least is substantially inhibited.

[0043] Each part 21 and 22 includes end cavities 25 that cooperate to receive the ends 18 so that the closure portion 20 cannot be removed.

[0044] The embodiment of FIG. 4 is particularly well suited to display apparatus including a rail which does not lend itself to being threaded through the eyelet 14 of the embodiment of FIG. 1. In such instances the hanger 10 of FIG. 4 is used by passing the rails through the gap 19 and then securing the closure portion 20 to the first portion 17 to close the gap 19. Accordingly the hanger 10 of FIG. 4 and garment hung thereon is inhibited from removal.

[0045] Frequently garment racks include downwardly sloping cantilever arms. The hangers are placed over the arms and are held in position by means of projections. In instances such as these a securing ring 26 is employed. The securing 26 would be passed through the eyelet 18 of the hanger 10 of FIG. 1 and around the arm to prevent the lower most hanger 10 being removed. This would then inhibit the removal of further hangers.

[0046] The ring 26 includes a body 27 having ends 28 separated by a gap 29. The gap 29 would be closed by the bridge portion 20 of FIG. 5 in the same manner as previously discussed.

[0047] In FIG. 7 there is schematically depicted an engaging portion 12 in the form of an eyelet assembly. The engagement portion 12 includes first and second parts 30 and 31. The parts 30 and 31 are preferably moulded from tough plastics material with each including a base 32 or 33. Extending from each base 32 and 33 is a hook portion 34 or 35. The parts 30 and 31 are assembled around a rack or rail so that the hanger is captively located with respect to the rack or rail. When secured together the parts 30 and 31 form an eyelet having a central aperture 36 through which the rack or rail is to pass.

[0048] The base 32 has a pair of barbs 37 (only one illustrated) while the extremity of the hook portion 34 has a barb 38. The barbs 37 and 38 co-operate with apertures 39 and 40 formed in the part 31. The aperture 40 is formed in the extremity of the hook portion 35.

[0049] When the barbs 37 and 38 are received within their associated apertures 39 and 40 the part 30 is attached to the part 31 to inhibit their separation. More particularly, separation of the parts 30 and 31 should only be possible upon their destruction.

[0050] The securing portion 12 is operatively associated with the stem 13 of the previous hangers. In this embodiment, the stem 13 has a groove 41 that aids in anchoring the stem 13 in the attachment portion 12 so that the attachment portion 12 can rotate relative to the stem 13 about the axis 42. To provide for this relative angular movement between the stem 13 and securing portion 12, the parts 30 and 31 are each provided with a recess 43, which recesses 43 are aligned so that when the parts 30 and 31 are attached they form a cavity to receive portion of the stem 13. More particularly each part 30 and 31 has an arcuate ridge 44, with the ridges being received in the annular recess 41 so that the stem 31 is captively located with respect to the securing portion 12. However, the stem 31 is slidably received within the securing portion 12 to provide for the angular movement about the axis 42.

[0051] Preferably, the extremities of the hook potions 34 and 35 are each stepped so that when the stepped portions are secured together the cross-section of the hook portion 34 and 35 is maintained.

[0052] In the above described preferred embodiments a garment may be secured to the hanger 10 by having the security tag 18 pass through adjacent portions of the garment collar, so that the collar may not be opened and the garment removed from the hanger.

Claims

1. A garment hanger including:

a garment support portion over which a garment is draped so as to be supported thereby;

an engaging portion fixed to the support portion and to secure the hanger to a structure from which the hanger is to be suspended; and

a securing portion depending from the support portion, the securing portion having an aperture to co-operate with a security tag so that a portion of the tag passes though the garment and said aperture so as to secure the garment to the hanger.

2. The garment hanger of claim 1 is a coat hanger and said support portion is a pair of arms that diverge from said engaging portion.

3. The hanger of claim 1 wherein said engaging portion is an eyelet.

4. The hanger of claim 3 wherein the eyelet includes a first portion having ends separated by a gap and a closure portion to be secured to the first portion to at least substantially close the gap.

5. The hanger of claim 4 wherein the closure portion extends between the ends to completely close the gap.

6. The hanger of claim 5 wherein the closure portion includes a first part having projections and a second part having apertures, which first and second portion when secured together are generally coextensive with the projections received within the apertures to inhibit separation of the parts and therefore close the gap.

7. The hanger of any one of claim 6 wherein said securing portion is a strip.

8. The hanger of claim 1 wherein said engaging portion includes an eyelet through which the structure is to pass so that the hanger is captively located with respect to the structure to thereby secure the hanger to the structure.

9. The hanger of claim 8 wherein the first and second parts engage to inhibit their separation.

10. The hanger of claim 9 wherein said first part includes at least one aperture and said second part includes at least one barb that is received within the aperture to secure the second part to the first part, with the barb engaging in the aperture of the first part to inhibit separation of the first and second parts.

11. The hanger of claim 10 wherein the first and second parts are each of a “hook” configuration so that each has a hook portion, which hook portions when secured together complete set eyelet.

12. The hanger of claim 11 wherein each hook portion includes an extremity, which extremities engage to inhibit their separation.

13. The hanger of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said garment support portion is attached to said engaging portion to provide for angular relative movement therebetween.

14. The hanger of claim 13 wherein said hanger includes a shaft extending between and attaching the garment support portion to the engaging portion to provide for said angular movement.

15. The hanger of claim 1 wherein:

the engaging portion includes an eyelet through which the structure is to pass so that the hanger is captively attached to the structure, said eyelet including a first part and a second part, which parts are secured together by being assembled about said structure.

16. The hanger of claim 15 wherein the first and second parts engage to inhibit their separation.

17. The hanger of claim 16 wherein said first part includes at least one aperture and said second part includes at least one barb that is received within the aperture to secure the second part to the first part, with the barb engaging in the aperture of the first part to inhibit separation of the first and second parts.

18. The hanger of claim 17 wherein the first and second parts are each of a “hook” configuration so that each has a hook portion, which hook portions when secured together complete set eyelet.

19. The hanger of claim 18 wherein each hook portion includes an extremity, which extremities engage to inhibit their separation.

20. The hanger of any one of claim 19 wherein said garment support portion is attached to said engaging portion to provide for angular relative movement therebetween.

21. The hanger of claim 20 wherein the hanger includes a shaft extending between and attaching the garment support portion to the engaging portion to provide for said angular movement.

22. A garment hanger including:

a garment support portion over which a garment is draped so as to be supported thereby;

an engaging portion fixed to the support portion and to secure the hanger to a structure from which the hanger is to be suspended; and wherein

the engaging portion includes an eyelet through which the structure is to pass so that the hanger is captively attached to the structure, said eyelet including a first part and a second part, which parts are secured together by being assembled about said structure.

23. The hanger of claim 22 wherein the first and second parts engage to inhibit their separation.

24. The hanger of claim 23 wherein said first part includes at least one aperture and said second part includes at least one barb that is received within the aperture to secure the second part to the first part, with the barb engaging in the aperture of the first part to inhibit separation of the first and second parts.

25. The hanger of claim 24 wherein the first and second parts are each of a “hook” configuration so that each has a hook portion, which hook portions when secured together complete set eyelet.

26. The hanger of claim 25 wherein each hook portion includes an extremity, which extremities engage to inhibit their separation.

27. The hanger of any one of claim 26 wherein said garment support portion is attached to said engaging portion to provide for angular relative movement therebetween.

28. The hanger of claim 27 wherein said hanger includes a shaft extending between and attaching the garment support portion to the engaging portion to provide for said angular movement.