A Hanger

The present invention relates to a hanger for hanging clothes In particular the present invention relates to a hanger made from recyclable material The hanger provides an improved profile for receiving clothes

Hangers are widely used to hang clothes in both domestic and commercial applications Hangers are generally made from a plastic, wood or metal materia) which require a great deal of time to produce and are not easy to dispose of in an environmentally satisfactory way

In the commercial environment of dry cleaning metal wire coat hangers are most commonly used However these hangers are made from a relatively thin metal wire of which only approximately 28% is made up of a recycled material Metal wire hangers are not re-used in the commercial environment Instead they are usually discarded The recycling process of wire hangers is known to be unworkable Therefore, recycling is not viable

When clothes for example shirts coats jackets or trousers are hung on wire hangers the weight of the item of clothing is supported only by the thin wire The weight of the item of clothing, therefore, pulls the item down at either side of the wire which damages and/or distorts the item In addition, wire hangers, being made of metal, are susceptible to rusting, which can result in the item of clothing being stained Finally, wire hangers have a smooth surface Therefore item of clothing can easily slide off of the hanger

It is known to use wire hangers in conjunction with auxiliary products made from plastic card and or foam to shape and enhance the hanger in order to receive a particular type of garment

It is customary in dry cleaning processes to add a "trouser guard" to a wire hanger when hanging a trouser to prevent the trouser from slipping off the base of the wire hanger It is also common practice to add shoulder "epaulettes" to a wire hanger in order to receive clothes which are more tailored for example a jacket coat or suit

However the "epaulettes" and "trouser guards" must be fitted to wire hangers prior to use This results in three separate manufacturing processes for the hanger epaulettes and trouser guard and at least two construction processes which must be completed before the hanger can be used This results in major disadvantages for the user For example the auxiliary products occupy additional storage space within the workspace and the practice of assembling the auxiliary products is time consuming and inconvenient Furthermore as a commercial business recycling capabilities are not fully executable The time and cost involved in each of the manufacturing and construction processes makes the use of wire hangers fitted with epaulettes and/or trouser support strips unattractive and uneconomical

It is an object of the present invention to address these and other disadvantages associated with the prior art

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hanger having a one-piece construction made from a recyclable material having a hook portion, two shoulder portions and a trouser support portion each shoulder portion comprising a shoulder support and wherein each shoulder support comprises a surface adapted to distribute the shape and weight of an item to be hung

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a blank for a hanger according to the first aspect of the invention, the blank comprising a shaped sheet of recyclable material having fold lines corresponding to shoulder portions and a trouser support portion wherein the shoulder portions each comprise a shoulder support having a surface adapted to distribute the shape and weight of an item to be hung

Preferably, the recyclable material is selected from the group including, but not limited to, cardboard, paper plastics, metals and the like More preferably, the recyclable material is paper or cardboard Most preferably, the recyclable material is corrugated cardboard Preferably the hanger is made from recyclable material that has previously been recycled Preferably the hanger is recyclable

Preferably the hanger is made from material which is strong enough to support items of clothing Preferably, the hanger is made from material which is strong enough to support heavy items of clothing Preferably the hanger comprises two layers of

material secured together Alternatively the hanger comprises a single layer of material Alternatively the hanger comprises a double layer of material at the hook portion to provide strength to the hook

Preferably the hanger is constructed from a blank Preferably, the hanger is constructed from a blank which is folded to provide extra strength Preferably the blank is substantially symmetrical about a fold line Preferably, the layers of the folded blank are secured together using an adhesive more preferably a water-based adhesive More preferably the hanger is constructed from a corrugated cardboard blank wherein the corrugations lie at an angle of approximately 45° to a base of the hanger Preferably the corrugations lie at an angle to a fold line Preferably the corrugations lie at an angle of approximately 45° to a fold line Alternatively the hanger is constructed from a single layer blank In this case preferably the blank comprises a single layer of recyclable material

Preferably, each shoulder support comprises a substantially flat surface adapted to distribute the shape and weight of the item to be hung Preferably, the shape and weight of an item is distributed evenly over the shoulder supports Alternatively, each shoulder support comprises a curved surface adapted to distribute the shape and weight of the item to be hung Preferably, the substantially flat or curved surface of each shoulder support is substantially perpendicular to the shoulder portion of the hanger Preferably the shoulder supports emulate the shape of a human shoulder

Preferably, the trouser support portion has a profile adapted to distribute the weight of an item to be hung over its surface to prevent damage, slipping or distortion of the item Preferably, the trouser support portion comprises a substantially flat surface adapted to distribute the shape and weight of the item to be hung Alternatively the trouser support portion comprises a curved surface adapted to distribute the shape and weight of the item to be hung Preferably the substantially flat or curved surface of the trouser support portion is substantially perpendicular to the shoulder portions of the hanger Preferably the trouser support portion is substantially n'-shaped in cross-section

Preferably the hanger further comprises apertures adapted to receive gripping means Preferably the gripping means are removably insertable into the apertures

Preferably the gripping means are adapted to secure skirts basques scarves and the like to the hanger

Preferably, the hanger comprises cut-out sections in the shoulder portions The cut- outs are preferably adapted to receive and secure items of clothing having straps or hanging loops Preferably, the cut-outs are marked at an angle to prevent straps or hanging loops slipping out of the cut-outs Preferably, the cut-outs are provided in the shoulder portions More preferably the cut-outs are provided below the shoulder supports

Preferably, the hanger comprises a collar support The collar support preferably comprises a profiled section at the base of the hook of the hanger Preferably, the profile of the collar support is curved to imitate the shape of a human neck

Preferably the hanger is adapted to receive any shaped and/or sized item of clothing

Alternatively, the size of the hanger corresponds to the size of the item of clothing to be hung In this case, hangers may be provided in a range of sizes to accommodate for example, women's, men's and/or children's clothing

The hanger may comprise further cut-outs or apertures for receiving other items of clothing, for example, ties

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a hanger having a one- piece construction made from recyclable material having a hook portion, two shoulder portions and a trouser support portion the trouser support portion comprising a profile adapted to distribute the shape and weight of an item to be hung

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a blank for a hanger according to the third aspect of the invention, the blank comprising a sheet of recyclable material having fold lines corresponding to a trouser support portion, the trouser support portion comprising a profile adapted to distribute the shape and weight of an item to be hung

Preferably the shoulder portions each comprise a shoulder support having a surface adapted to distribute the shape and weight of an item to be hung

Any of the above described features may be taken in any combination, and with any aspect of the invention

The invention will now be illustrated further with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a hanger according to a first embodiment of the invention in its flat configuration,

Figure 2 shows a schematic, perspective view of one side of the hanger of Figure 1 in its folded configuration

Figure 3 shows a plan view of a blank for construction of the hanger of Figure 1

Figures 4a, b and c show schematic views of a construction of the portion of the hanger marked A in Figure 3,

Figure 5 shows an alternative configuration of the hanger of the first embodiment of the invention,

Figures 6a and b show a plan view and a folded view respectively of a hanger according to a second embodiment of the invention, and

Figure 7 shows a plan view of a hanger according to a third embodiment of the invention

Referring to Figure 1 , a hanger 2 comprises a hook 4, a collar portion 6, two shoulder portions 8, 10 each comprising a shoulder support 12, 14, a trouser support portion 16, and a plurality of cut-outs 18, 20 and apertures 22, 24, 26, 28

The hook 4 is tapered towards its nose end 30 to a width and angle which allows ease of use with commercial machinery and prevents the hangers falling or slipping off a hanging rail (not shown)

The collar portion 6 comprises a curved section at the base of the hook 4 and in between the shoulder portions 8, 10 The soft curves defining the collar portion 6 provide support for items of clothing with collars so that they retain their shape

The shoulder portions 8 10 each comprise a fold line 32 34 which follows from the line of the collar portion 6 to the end of the shoulder portions of the hanger 2 Each shoulder portion 8, 10 is joined to a shoulder support 12 14 which comprises a section of card extending above the shoulder portion 8, 10 and having a fold line 36 38 substantially one third of the way across the shoulder support 12, 14 from the shoulder portion 8, 10 and running substantially parallel to the fold line 32 34 of the shoulder portion 8 10

In use the shoulder portions 8 10 and supports 12 14 are folded along the fold lines 32, 34, 36, 38 to form the three-dimensional supports as shown in Figure 2 The folded shoulder supports 12, 14 emulate the shape of a human shoulder in order to support items of clothing, for example, tailored items, shirts, jackets, blazers and coats

The trouser support portion 16 is folded along its two fold lines 40 42 to form the three-dimensional support as shown in Figure 2 The support 16 forms a soft 'box' shape over which the weight of the trouser is distributed, such that the weight is not concentrated and does not result in an unsightly crease line in the trousers The trouser support portion 16 further helps to prevent the trousers slipping off the hanger

2

The aperture 44 above the trouser support portion 16 is arched to allow hand manoeuvring when feeding a pair of trousers therethrough

A series of apertures 22, 24, 26, 28 are located towards the base of the hanger 2 Four apertures are shown in Figure 1 , however more or fewer apertures may be present The apertures 22, 24, 26, 28 accommodate reusable clips and/or pins (not shown) which are used to secure items of clothing including skirts, basques, scarves or other items which could not otherwise be hung from the shoulder portions 8, 10 or trouser support portion 16 of the hanger 2 The reusable clips and/or pins are reusable and can be removed and replaced on another hanger 2

The shoulder portions 8 10 of the hanger 2 further comprise cut-outs 18 20 The cutouts 18 20 are located towards the ends of the shoulder portions 8 10 and are beneath the shoulder supports 12 14 when the hanger 2 is in the fully folded position shown in Figure 2 The cut-outs 18 20 form 'u shapes in the shoulder portions 8 10 of the hanger 2 into which hanging loops or straps of items of clothing can be placed The 'u' shape of the cut-outs 18 20 retain the loops or straps to prevent the item of clothing slipping off the hanger 2

The edges of the hanger 2 are rounded Such rounding of the edges of the hanger 2 prevents the delicate fabrics of some items of clothing from snagging on the hanger 2 This rounding, therefore, aids in the prevention of damage and/or distortion to items of clothing

Referring now to Figure 3 a blank 100 for a hanger 2 comprises a sheet of corrugated cardboard The cardboard is arranged such that the corrugations 104 lie at an angle of approximately 45° to the base of the hanger 2, as shown in Figure 4a

Figures 4a to 4c show schematically the corrugations in the cardboard on the blank and how the corrugations overlap once the blank is folded The figures show an area of the blank which is representative of the blank as a whole and is shown on Figure 3 as the area A

The sheet of cardboard is profiled such that when the cardboard is folded along the base 102 of the hanger 2 the double-layer hanger profile of Figure 1 is produced The folding of the cardboard along the base 102 of the hanger 2 as shown in Figure 4b, produces a double-layer of cardboard in which the corrugations 104 run substantially perpendicularly in each layer, as shown in Figure 4c, to increase the strength thereof The two layers of cardboard are secured together with a water- based adhesive which is applied to the body of the hanger 2, excluding the shoulder supports 12 14 and trouser support portion 16

The shoulder supports 12, 14 and trouser support 16 are then folded down into their three-dimensional configurations to receive items of clothing to be hung

The shoulder supports 12 14 comprise four profiied sections 106 108 110 112 m the blank 100 which meet to form the two shoulder supports 12 14 in the folded hanger 2

The trouser support portion comprises a section of cardboard formed on one side of the blank only However there may be a trouser support portion provided on each side of the blank

Referring now to Figure 5 an alternative configuration of the hanger blank is shown The hanger comprises all of the features of the hanger of Figure 1 , and is constructed in the same way. The hanger of Figure 5 differs from that of Figure 1 only in the shape of the hook 4 and collar portions 6 and the cut outs 18, 20

In the second embodiment of the present invention as shown in Figures 6a and b a hanger 202 comprises a hook 204, a collar portion 206, two shoulder portions 208 210 each comprising a shoulder support 212, 214, a trouser support portion 216, and a plurality of cut-outs 218, 220 and apertures 222 224, 226, 228

The hanger 202 of the second embodiment comprises a single layer of cardboard Therefore, the blank for the hanger 202 of the second embodiment has no fold line, and is substantially the same in shape as the hanger 202 itself

The shoulder supports 212, 214 each comprise a bι-fold section having an outer support section 230 for folding in one direction and an inner support section 232 for folding in an opposite direction Preferably, the shoulder supports 212, 214 are folded such that the outer support section 230 and inner support section 232 are substantially perpendicular to or at acute angles to the shoulder portions 212, 214 of the hanger The shoulder supports 212, 214 then act in the same way as those described with reference to the first embodiment of the invention

The hook 204 and collar portions 206 may be reinforced in the second embodiment of the invention with a further layer of a supporting material, for example a cardboard layer The further layer may be formed integrally with the hanger by folding a section of material over from the blank in an analogous way to that described with reference to Figure 3 Alternatively the further layer may be formed from a separate sheet of material The further layer is secured to the single layer hanger by means of

adhesive, preferably, a water-based adhesive This provides strength to the hanger 202 so that heavy items of clothing can be supported whilst minimising the volume of material required to construct the hanger 202

The trouser support portion 216 and plurality of cut-outs 218 220 and apertures 222 224 226 228 are analogous to those described in the first embodiment of the invention

Referring now to Figure 7, a third embodiment of the present invention comprises a hook 304, a collar portion 306, two shoulder portions 308, 310, a trouser support portion 316, and a plurality of cut-outs 318, 320 and apertures 322, 324 326 328 The hanger 302 differs from the second aspect of the invention in that it does not comprise any foldable should supports

The hanger of the present invention provides a recyclable product which is simple to use and manufacture Since the hanger is made from recyclable material, the manufacturing is reduced to produce the hanger, and only one construction process is required to assemble the hanger into its three-dimensional shape from its blank This reduces both the manufacturing process of the hanger and the time required to construct the hanger prior to its use Further the hanger can be supplied flat-packed for ease of transport and storage

The invention provides a 'universal' hanger, which incorporates all elements required of a hanger without additional auxiliary products and practices

The three-dimensional shoulder supports emulate the shape of the human shoulder and therefore provide a suitable support for items of clothing which distributes the weight of the items in a manner analogous to that which occurs when people are wearing the items Therefore the shoulder supports reduce or eliminate the likelihood of damage and/or distortion occurring to items of clothing which are hung on the hangers

The trouser support portion provides a larger area over which the weight of the trouser is spread compared to traditional wire or other hangers Therefore no unsightly crease lines are formed in the leg of the trouser by the weight of the material hanging over the hanger This creasing is more commonly associated with wire hangers

Furthermore, the collar support portion of the hanger emulates the shape of a human neck, and consequently provides a suitable support for the collars of shirts, jackets, coats and the like, to avoid damage or distortion thereof

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodιment(s) The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed