The present invention relates to devices for holding garment hangers, particularly for hanging garments on a rail.

The number of garments which can be hung on any one rail is traditionally limited by the bulk of the hangers used. The modern trend for shoulder pads in many garments also adds to the bulk and reduces the space available.

According to the present invention, there is provided a device comprising a first part, preferably in the form of a hook, shaped and adapted to be carried by a rail, and a second part comprising a loop adapted to support a plurality of garment hangers so as to increase the number of hangers which can be carried by the rail.

Preferably, the second part is flexibly connected to the first part and may itself be flexible and in the form of a strap and is adjustable to alter the separation of the loop from a rail carrying the first part.

The flexible strap may comprise a plurality of loops.

In one embodiment, the first part is a hook in the form of a closed loop for permanent attachment to a rail. Alternatively it comprises a latched element to resist inadvertent displacement from a rail.

Preferably the first part is made of an inflexible, strong material such as a plastics material or metal.

A device according to the invention is particularly useful in shops, warehouses and factories though it can also be used in domestic situations.

It is also useful in the transport of garments, either carried by a rail in a van or to facilitate carrying many garments by hand. For example two devices may be interlocked across a handlers shoulder.

The invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a device according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows the device of Figure 1, in use, in perspective view.

Figure 3 shows the device of Figure 1 in use on a rail together with traditional garment hangers; and

Figure 4 shows two alternative embodiments of the device of the invention.

The device 1 of Figure 1 has a hooked portion 2 made of rigid plastics material with a flexible strap 3 attached. The flexible strap forms a closed loop passing through hole 4 in hooked portion 2 and fastened with a rivet 5. The rivet 5 may alternatively be a latched fastening and may be adjustable to allow adjustment of the position of the loop relative to the hooked portion 2 and thus to a rail from which garments are to be hung. The loop could also be formed by stitching the strap.

Figure 2 shows the device 1 hung on a rail 6 with several traditional garment hangers 7 supported in the loop of the strap 3.

The advantage of the device 1 can be seen in Figure 3 where its use on rail 6, already crowded with traditional hangers 7, enables several (here five) more garment hangers 7 to be supported than would be possible without the device 1.

Figure 4 shows two alternative embodiments of the device la and lb, each comprising three loops 8 for supporting yet more garment hangers than would traditionally be possible on rail 6. In device la, the loops 8 comprise separate sections of flexible strap riveted onto a length of strap 3 supported by hooked portion 2. In device lb, the loops 8 are formed by riveting together a double length of strap 3 at spaced locations.

A device according to the invention is particularly versatile. For example, two devices can be attached together by the hooked portions and hung over a handler\'s shoulder enabling the handler to carry several garments in front and several behind yet still have his hands free.

When the device 1 is used on a rail, a second rail can be hung below the first by insertion into loops of two spaced

devices. Alternatively, the flexibility of the strap 3 enables the loops to be twisted so that a rail may be hung perpendicular to and between two parallel rails, for example in a van.

The hooked portion may be an open hook as shown in the Figures or may be closed for permanent mounting on a rail, or may be latched to resist inadvertent detachment from the rail.

The strap 3 is preferably made from a strong webbing material and could be made detachable from the hook portion so that worn straps could be periodically and easily replaced and/or washed.

The looped portion for holding the garment hangers could alternatively be made of a solid plastics material.