WO2010118459A1

WO2010118459A1 - Garment hanger hook and garment hanger

Info

Publication number: WO2010118459A1
Application number: PCT/AU2010/000406
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anthony Mooney
Original assignee: ORITON Pty Ltd
Current assignee: ORITON Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2009-04-17
Filing date: 2010-04-13
Publication date: 2010-10-21
Anticipated expiration: 2011-10-17

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention provide a garment hanger hook adapted for use on either thick or thin hanging rails or lines. A garment hanger including the garment hanger hook is also provided. The garment hanger hook comprises a hook portion adapted for engagement with a thick hanging rail, and a neck portion joined to the hook portion for connecting the hook to a garment hanger body. First and second line engagement portions are formed in the neck portion and hook portion respectively and are cooperatively shaped for supporting the hanger hook on a thin rail or line.

Description

GARMENT HANGER HOOK AND GARMENT HANGER

Field of the Invention:

The field of the invention is garment hangers and coat hangers .

Background of the Invention :

Garment hangers and coat hangers having a garment support structure and a hook for hanging on a wardrobe rail or garment rack rail are known. Wardrobe or garment rack rails are typically thick, having diameter of around two or more centimetres , and the diameter of the rails can vary widely . Garment hanger hooks are therefore quite large and shaped to accommodate varying rail diameters . This makes it possible to hang the hangers on a wide variety or rails or hooks . The size of the hook means that the hangers generally sit loosely. The large hook can be used to hang the hanger on a thin rail or clothes line, of a few millimetres in diameter. However, the hangers will rest extremely loosely on these thin rails or lines . This means the hangers are not secure and prone to being dislodged from the thin line or rail .

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a garment hanger hook comprising: a hook portion adapted for engagement with a thick hanging rail; a neck portion joined to the hook portion for connecting the hook to a garment hanger body; a first line engagement portion; and a second line engagement portion, wherein the first and second line engagement portions are formed in the neck portion and hook portion respectively and cooperatively shaped for supporting the hanger hook on a thin rail or line .

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a garment hanger comprising: a body shaped to support a garment; a hook portion adapted for engagement with a thick hanging rail; a neck portion joining the hook portion to the body; a first line engagement portion; and a second line engagement portion, wherein the first and second line engagement portions are formed in the neck portion and hook portion respectively and cooperatively shaped for supporting the hanger on a thin rail or line.

The first line engagement portion can comprise a projection extending outwardly from the neck to form a slot between the projection and the neck in which a thin rail or line can be received.

The second line engagement portion can be formed toward the end of the hook portion substantially horizontally aligned with the first line engagement portion .

In some embodiments the second line engagement portion comprises a slot formed in the end of the hook portion . In some alternative embodiments the second line engagement portion comprises a line engaging surface and a downwardly extending projection, the downwardly extending projection formed such that force applied to an engaged line or rail by the projection works in cooperation with force applied to the engaged line or rail by the first line engagement portion to retain the line engaging surface against the line or rail .

The neck portion can be curved to accommodate the projection of the first engagement portion.

Some embodiments of the garment hanger hook further comprise a third line engagement portion comprising a slot formed in the hook portion for retaining a thin rail or line therein to support the hanger hook on the rail or line .

In some embodiments the garment hanger hook is further adapted to engage with a traditional hook of a garment hanger to adapt the traditional hook for support on a thin rail or line . For example the garment hanger hook can have a slot adapted to receive at least a portion of a traditional hook. For example the traditional hook can be a wire or plastic hook.

Brief Description of the Drawings :

An embodiment, incorporating all aspects of the invention , will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of a coat hanger hook hung along a clothes line; Figures 2a and 2b illustrate an embodiment of a coat hanger hook hung across a clothes line; Figures 3a and 3b illustrate an embodiment usable with different size clothes lines or thin clothes rails; Figure 4 is an exemplary embodiment of a garment hanger having a garment hanger hook of an embodiment of the invention ; Figure 5 is an example of an alternative embodiment of a garment hanger hook; Figure 6 is an example of a further alternative embodiment of a garment hanger hook .

Detailed Description

Embodiments of garment hanger hooks and garment hanger adapted to be used both on a thick clothes rail and thin clothes lines or rails, such as rails of a clothes airer are herein described.

An embodiment of a garment hanger hook is illustrated in Figure 1. The garment hanger hook 100 has a hook portion 110 adapted for engagement with a thick hanging rail, a neck portion 120 for connecting the hook to a hanger body and two line engagement portions 130, 140 for supporting the hanger hook on a thin rail or line. As shown in Figure 1 the hook portion 110 is shaped substantially similar to a traditional moulded coat hanger hook, in that the hook is curved to accommodate a thick clothes rail . The diameter of the inside of the curve of the hook portion is greater than the diameter of a typical clothes rail . For example clothes rails may be typically around two to four centimetres in diameter, so the diameter of the inside of the curve may be five to six centimetres . This enables the hook to be hung on a clothes rail or other hook like a traditional garment hanger. The neck portion 120 is joined to the hook portion 110 for connecting the hook to a garment hanger body (not shown in Figure 1) .

The garment hanger hook illustrated in Figure 1 has a first line engagement portion 130 formed in the neck portion 120 and a second line engagement portion 140 formed in the hook portion 110. The first and second line engagement portions 130, 140 are cooperatively shaped for supporting the hanger hook on a thin rail or line 150.

In the embodiment illustrated the first line engagement portion 130 comprises a projection extending outwardly from the neck 120 to form a slot between the projection and the neck. A thin rail or line 150 can be received in the slot. The neck portion may be curved to accommodate the projection. For example as illustrated in Figure 1 and also shown in Figures 3a and 3b the neck may be curved such that the outer or front face of the projection is in the same plane as the outer or front face of the hook portion. The curve formed in the neck enables the projection and the slot to be unobtrusive and an aesthetically pleasing shape for the hanger hook provided without compromising the strength of the hanger hook. In alternative embodiments the first line engaging portion may protrude from the neck , for example the first line engagement portion may be a downwardly extending hook .

The second line engagement portion 140 in this embodiment is a slot formed in the end of the hook portion. The slot is sized to receive the line or rail 150. As illustrated the first and second line engagement portions 130, 140 are aligned substantially horizontally so that when the hanger hook is placed on a thin line or rail 150 the hanger hook rests evenly on the two line engagement portions, as illustrated. It should be appreciated that the engagement of the line 150 at two points inhibits swinging of the hanger and any garment supported thereon in the direction along the line. The hanger hook does allow some swinging in the direction perpendicular to the line.

Hanging the hook 100 on a line 150 using the first and second line engaging portions 130, 140 will result in the garment hanging parallel to the line. In some embodiments a third line engaging portion 160 is provided to enable the hanger to be securely hung perpendicular to the line. For example as illustrated in Figures 2a and 2b, the third line engaging portion can be a slot 260 formed in the hook portion 210 to receive a thin line or rail 250. The slot 260 is shaped to receive a thin clothes line or clothes rail 250 and as the line 250 sits relatively snugly within the slot 260 the hanger hook is less prone to movement and dislodgement from the line 250 compared to a traditional garment hanger hung on a clothes line .

In the illustrated embodiment the third line engagement portion 260 is formed at the apex of the inside curve f the hook. However, the position of the third engagement portion may vary between embodiments . Advantageously the third engagement portion will be formed to coincide with a natural balance point of the hanger. Where such natural balance points occur may vary between embodiments , depending on the shape of the garment hanger body.

The slots of the engagement portions may be tapered to enable different line and rail thicknesses to be accommodated. For example, Figure 3a shows a side view of the portion of the garment hanger neck 300 where the first line engagement portion is formed, comprising a projection

310 to form a tapered slot 360 between the projection 310 and the neck 320. It can also be observed from Figure 3a that in this embodiment the neck is curved 320 to accommodate the projection 310 and slot 360 without narrowing the neck .

The tapered slot 360 is shown in Figure 3a having a thin clothes line 340 retained in the top of the slot. Figure 3b shows the same section of the garment hanger neck 300 as in Figure 3a having the same projection 310 and slot 360. Figure 3b illustrates a thicker clothes line for rail 350 retained within a lower part of the slot 360 due to the thickness of the line or rail 350. For example, Figures 3a and 3b may illustrate the same hanger being retained on a clothes line and a clothes airer rail respectively wherein the clothes airer rail is thicker than the clothes line.

Alternative embodiments may further comprise structural or textural features within the slots 130, 140, 160 to aid retaining a narrow line or clothes airer rail within the slot. For example horizontal grooves may be provided on the inner side walls of the slots to increase the friction between a rail or line within the slot and the slot walls . Many alternative textures can also be used for example vertical or angled grooves , dimples , bumps, ripples etc. The inner side walls of the slots may be coated with a tacky material to enhance the grip on a rail or line placed therein. In an alternative embodiment the inner side walls of the slots are formed from or covered by a resilient material adapted to temporarily deform in response to pressure placed on the material by line or rail placed within the slot, such that the resilient material grips the line or rail to enhance retaining the rail or line within the slot. The weight of a garment supported by the hanger can provide additional gravitational force which can further improve the effectiveness of the above features for securing the hanger on a line or rail .

An example of a garment hanger is illustrated in Figure 4. The garment hanger 400 has a hook portion 410 and a hanger body 430 joined by a neck portion 420. The hanger body 430 is shaped to support a garment. The shape of the hanger body will vary depending on the nature of the garment to be supported by the hanger. A first line engagement portion 440 is formed in the neck 420 and a second line engagement portion is formed in the end of the hook portion 450 to enable the garment hanger to be hung on a thin clothes line or rail such that the garment will hang substantially parallel to the line or rail. A third line engagement portion 460 is also provided in the top inner portion of the hook to enable the hanger to be hung securely on a thin line or rail, such that the garment hangs substantially perpendicular to the line or rail .

In the illustrated embodiment the first and second engagement portions 440, 450 are formed in an upper part of the neck 420 and in the end of the hook 410. However, other possible placements of the engagement portions are envisaged, for example engagement portions may be formed lower in the neck or even in the shoulders of the hanger . Alternatively engagement portions may be formed up the neck and hook portions .

An advantage of the engagement portions being formed in the neck portion and end of the hook as illustrated in Figure 4 is that they are formed higher on the hanger hook than a collar of a garment hung on the hanger would typically extend. Thus it is unlikely that a line or rail would interfere with the garment collar when the hanger is hung on a thin rail or line using the first and second engagement portions. This is of a particular advantage for garment hangers designed for supporting shirts , jackets or coats, such as the coat hanger embodiment illustrated in Figure 4. However, this may not be relevant for other types of hangers for garments without collars, for example garment hangers designed for supporting skirts , trousers , T-shirts or undergarments . A further advantage is that the thickness of the neck and hook are substantially constant minimising potential weak areas of the hanger hook . Thus embodiments as illustrated may have strength advantages over an alternative embodiment where the neck and/or hook are narrowed to accommodate the engagement portions. Further, this arrangement of the first and second engagement portions , as illustrated in the Figures , provides an aesthetically pleasing look for the hanger.

In an alternative embodiment, the projection of the first engagement portion may be formed at the back of the neck rather than the front as illustrated. The engagement portions may be aligned across the hanger hook such that the hanger body will hang angled relative to the clothes line or rail . This may enable garments to be hung more space efficiently on a clothes line or clothes airer than if the garments were hung parallel to the lines or rails . For example, if the garment hangers hang at a 20° angle relative to the direction of the line, the edges of the garments may be overlapped to enable more garments to be hung in the available line space . The hanging angle will depend on the thickness and shape of the neck and the engagement portions and may vary between embodiments . All possible variations are envisaged within the scope of the present application .

The second line engagement portion need not be a slot. For example, in the alternative embodiment illustrated in Figure 5, the second line engagement portion of the garment hanger hook 500 comprises a line engaging surface 510 and a downwardly extending projection 520. The downwardly extending projection 520 can be formed such that force applied to an engaged line or rail by the projection 520 works in cooperation with force applied to the engaged line or rail by the first line engagement portion 540 to retain the line engaging surface against the line or rail . A third line engagement portion 560 may also be provided to enable the hanger to be hung securely across a thin line or rail.

A further alternative embodiment is illustrated in Figure 6, the garment hanger hook 600 of this embodiment is designed to be formed using a press moulding technique and has an aperture 630 behind the projection 640 of the first line engagement portion formed in the neck of the hook . The second line engagement portion has a line engaging surface 610 and a downwardly extending projection 620 similar to those of the embodiment of Figure 5. The garment hanger hook 600 can also include a third line engagement portion 660 to enable the hook to be hung perpendicular to the line. It should be appreciated that the embodiment of Figure 6 can be hollowed out at the rear of the hanger and thus has an advantage of being able to be produced using less material than some other embodiments . In both the embodiments of Figures 5 and 6 the second line engagement portion may be provided with a rough textured or resilient surface to enhance the friction or grip between the line engaging surface 510, 610 and a line or rail. It should be appreciated that a combination of gravitational force provided by the weight of a garment on the hanger and the texture of the line engaging surface can provide enough friction to retain the second line engagement portion against a line or rail retained by the first and second line engagement portions.

In an alternative embodiment both the first and second line engagement portions may have comprise projections adapted to form slots between the projections and the neck and hook portion respectively. For example, in an embodiment where the second line engaging portion is not formed in the end of the hook, the second line engagement portion may be formed substantially identically to the first engagement portion as illustrated in Figure 1.

Embodiments described herein utilise gravitational force as the primary force to retain the thin line or rail in engagement with the first and second line engaging portions. This has the advantage of enabling a simple design which can be intuitively used. Another advantage is that no moving parts are required which can simplify manufacture and reduce manufacturing costs . Further , problems such as variability in clothes line or clothes rail widths and shapes have minimal impact on the effectiveness of the hanging hooks. However, alternative embodiments using interference or tension fits in combination with gravitational forces are also envisaged. For example, horizontal slots adapted to grip the line or rail may be used for one or both of the first and second line engaging portions in some embodiments . Alternatively or additionally flexible closures me be provided to close the slots to retain the line or rail in engagement with the first and second engagement portions in some embodiments .

Embodiments of garment hangers and garment hanger hooks as described above can be manufactured using known plastic moulding and pressing techniques . An advantage of known plastic moulding and pressing techniques is that the garment hangers can be cheaply and easily mass produced.

The garment hanger hook design disclosed herein can be produced at costs similar to some standard garment hangers . Some embodiments of the garment hangers may be moulded as a single piece. Alternatively garment hanger hooks may be manufactured separately, for attaching to garment hanger bodies as a further manufacturing or assembly step.

It should be appreciated that garment hanger hooks as described herein may be applied to any style of garment hanger body . All possible variations are envisaged and considered within the scope of the present application.

In some alternative embodiments the garment hanger hook adapted to engage with a traditional hook of a garment hanger to adapt the traditional hook for support on a thin rail or line . For example the traditional hook can be a wire or plastic hook, such hooks are adapted for hooking over a wide diameter clothes rail only and exhibit the disadvantages described above making them unsuitable for use on thin clothes lines or clothes airer rails . Embodiments of the garment hanger hook can be provide which can be applied to existing, traditional garment hanger hooks .

In an embodiment the garment hanger hook has a slot formed along the length of the hook, the slot being shaped to receive at least a portion of a traditional hook. For example, the slot may be formed in and along the upper surface of the hook portion and down the outer side of neck portion such that a traditional wire or plastic coathanger hook may be placed over the garment hanger hook and into the slot. The traditional hook may be retained in the slot through gravitational force . Alternatively or additionally the slot may be shaped to provide interference fit to positively retain the traditional hook in the slot.

In an alternative embodiment a slot to retain a traditional hanger hook is formed in the front or rear surface of the garment hanger hook of an embodiment of the present invention. Some embodiments may be provided with adhesive within the slot or adhesive tape or tabs appropriately shaped to cover at least part of the slot to assist in retaining the traditional hanger hook in the slot. Alternatively a resealable cover for the slot may be provided. For example a cover sealed with a hook and loop fastening, clips or friction interference fastening may be provided to cover or enclose at least a part of the slot. In an alternative embodiment the hook may comprise two or more interconnecting parts, adapted to encapsulate at least part of a traditional hanger hook to provide a hook adapted for hanging on a thin line or rail as described herein .

In another alternative embodiment, the hanger hook of an embodiment of the present invention has an aperture or channel through at least a portion of the hook through which a traditional hanger hook may be threaded . Thus , a hanger hook in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention may be applied to a traditional wire or plastic garment hanger to adapt the hanger for more effective use on a clothes line or thin rail of a clothes airer .

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in any country .

Claims

1. A garment hanger hook comprising: a hook portion adapted for engagement with a thick hanging rail; a neck portion joined to the hook portion for connecting the hook to a garment hanger body; a first line engagement portion; and a second line engagement portion, wherein the first and second line engagement portions are formed in the neck portion and hook portion respectively and cooperatively shaped for supporting the hanger hook on a thin rail or line .

2. A garment hanger hook as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first line engagement portion comprises a projection extending outwardly from the neck to form a slot between the projection and the neck in which a thin rail or line can be received.

3. A garment hanger hook as claimed in claim 2 wherein the second line engagement portion is formed toward the end of the hook portion substantially horizontally aligned with the first line engagement portion .

4. A garment hanger hook as claimed in claim 3 wherein the second line engagement portion comprises a slot formed in the end of the hook portion.

5. A garment hanger hook as claimed in claim 3 wherein the second line engagement portion comprises a line engaging surface and a downwardly extending projection, the downwardly extending projection formed such that force applied to an engaged line or rail by the projection works in cooperation with force applied to the engaged line or rail by the first line engagement portion to retain the line engaging surface against the line or rail .

6. A garment hanger hook as claimed in claim 2 wherein the neck portion is curved to accommodate the projection.

7. A garment hanger hook as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a third line engagement portion comprising a slot formed in the hook portion for retaining a thin rail or line therein to support the hanger hook on the rail or line .

8. A garment hanger hook as claimed in claim 1 further adapted to engage with a traditional hook of a garment hanger to adapt the traditional hook for support on a thin rail or line.

9. A garment hanger hook as claimed in claim 8 having a slot adapted to receive at least a portion of a traditional hook .

10. A garment hanger hook as claimed in claim 9 wherein the traditional hook is a wire hook.

11. A garment hanger hook as claimed in claim 9 wherein the traditional hook is a plastic hook.

12. A garment hanger comprising a body shaped to support a garment; a hook portion adapted for engagement with a thick hanging rail; a neck portion joining the hook portion to the body ; a first line engagement portion; and a second line engagement portion, wherein the first and second line engagement portions are formed in the neck portion and hook portion respectively and cooperatively shaped for supporting the hanger on a thin rail or line.

13. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 12 wherein the first line engagement portion comprises a projection extending outwardly from the neck to form a slot between the projection and the neck in which a thin rail or line can be received.

14. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 13 wherein the second line engagement portion is formed toward the end of the hook portion substantially horizontally aligned with the first line engagement portion.

15. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 14 wherein the second line engagement portion comprises a slot formed in the end of the hook portion.

16. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 15 wherein the second line engagement portion comprises a line engaging surface and a downwardly extending projection, the downwardly extending projection formed such that force applied to an engaged line or rail by the projection works in cooperation with force applied to the engaged line or rail by the first line engagement portion to retain the line engaging surface against the line or rail .

17. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 13 wherein the neck portion is curved to accommodate the projection.

18. A garment hanger as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a third line engagement portion comprising a slot formed in the hook portion for retaining a thin rail or line therein to support the hanger on the rail or line.