The present invention relates to garment hangers provided with torsion spring clips on each arm of the garment hanger.

Background of the Invention

Recently, disposable garment hangers, particulars those of moulded plastic material, have gained increasing acceptance in the garment trade. Due to improved injection moulding techniques, these plastic garment hangers can be made relatively cheaply in large numbers. This inexpensive supply of garment hangers has led to clothing retailers and wholesalers providing the garments on hangers. The garments are then purchased by the consumers together with the hanger, or the hanger is simply discarded.

In a number of situations it is preferable that the garment is suspended by clips provided on the arms of the hanger as opposed to the garment actually being suspended over the arms of the garment hanger. To this end a number of garment hanger designs incorporating clips have been proposed. These generally fall within two categories. The first of these are clips in which the force that urges the ends of the clip together is provided by a steel spring positioned within the clip or a steel piece which slides over the two legs of the clip. Such clips are disclosed in Australian design registration Nos. 74147 and 95381. In the other category are hangers such as those disclosed in Australian design registration No. 97586. In such hangers the ability of the clips to grasp garments is provided solely by the flexibility of the plastic material from which the hanger is formed.

Whilst garment hangers provided with clips including a spring or the like are relatively sturdy, due to the requirement to insert springs these hangers are time

consuming to produce and, consequently, more expensive. In contrast, the clip hangers which rely upon the flexibility of the plastic material, whilst being relatively simple to produce, are relatively weak and the clip breaks easily. In particular, when the garment hanger is made of rigid clear polystyrene, a brittle substance, the clip often fractures and can lead to shards of plastic being embedded in the skin of persons manipulating the clip. Summary of the Invention

The present inventor has developed a novel clip hanger in which the opening of the clip results in a torsional force being applied to the arm of the garment hanger, this force urging the engaging ends of the clip together.

Accordingly, in a first aspect the present invention consists in a moulded plastic garment hanger comprising a body portion and a hook portion by which the hanger may be suspended, the body portion comprising a pair of arms each of which is provided with clip means adapted to grasp a garment, characterised in that each clip means comprises a pair of fingers each having a first and a second end, the first ends of the fingers being positioned adjacent each other and the second ends being held in a spaced apart relationship, the clip means being connected to or formed integrally with the arm of the hanger in a manner such that bringing the second ends of the fingers together causes the first ends to move apart and creates a torsional force in the arm of the hanger, said torsional force acting to urge said first ends towards each other.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art in order to make the most effective use of the torsional forces produced in the arms of the hanger, typically at the position of clip means the arms of the hanger will branch with each branch arm being connected to one of the

fingers of the clip means. In this manner bringing the spaced apart ends of the fingers of the clip means towards each other will create equal and opposing torsional forces in each of the arms of the branch. These torsional forces act to urge the previously adjacent ends of the fingers of the clip back towards each other.

At present it is preferred that the garment hanger including the clip means is moulded in one piece, however, in some situations it is preferable to mould the hanger and the clip means separately and subsequently connect the clip means to the arms of the hanger. As will be readily appreciated, if when the spaced apart ends of the clip means are brought together, for the adjacent ends of the fingers to move apart the fingers must pivot. In preferred embodiments of the present invention the point about which the fingers pivot is provided by means of a flexible bar extending between the two fingers, by means of a ball and socket joint positioned between the two fingers, by a projection positioned on one finger and extending towards the other finger or may be provided by the branches of the arm itself. It is presently preferred, however, that the fingers pivot about the branches of the arm.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the garment hanger is provided with gussets which extend between the arms of the hanger and the fingers of the clip means.

In a further preferred embodiment the arms of the garment hanger are provided with strengthening ribs. In addition, it is preferred that the fingers of the clip means are provided with strengthening ribs.

The degree to which the adjacent ends of the fingers may be moved apart will, of course, depend upon the positioning of the point about which the fingers pivot. As would be readily understood, the closer the positioning

of the pivot point to the spaced apart ends of the fingers, the greater the degree of opening that can be produced in the adjacent ends of the fingers.

In the situation where the branches of the arm itself provide the pivot, it is presently preferred that the length of the branched arm proximate the spaced apart ends of the fingers is greater than the length of the branched arm proximate the adjacent ends of the fingers.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention the clip means is formed separately from the hanger and is releasably connected thereto in a manner such that the position of the clip means relative to the arm of the hanger may be adjusted.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention the adjacent ends of the fingers of the clip means are provided with engaging teeth.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention each of the adjacent ends of the fingers are provided with corresponding projections which each extend into the space between the two fingers and towards the spaced apart ends of the fingers.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In order that the nature of the present invention may be more clearly understood, preferred forms thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: -

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the garmet hanger of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a front plan view of the garment hanger of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a partial top plan view of the hanger of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a front plan view of another embodiment of the garment hanger of the present invention;

Figure 6 shows a partial top plan view of the garment hanger of Figure 5; Figure 7 shows a cross sectional view taken through line 7-7 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a front plan view of another embodiment of the garment hanger of the present invention:

Figure 9 is a partial top plan view of the garment hanger of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a cross sectional view taken through line 10-10 of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a front plan view of another embodiment of the garment hanger of the present invention; Figure 12 is a partial top plan view of the garment hanger of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a cross sectional view taken through line 13-13 of Figure 11;

Figure 14 is a front plan view of another embodiment of the garment hanger of the present invention;

Figure 15 is a partial top plan view of the garment hanger of Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a cross sectional view taken through line 16-16 of Figure 14; and Turning to Figures 1 and 2 garment hanger 10 comprises a hook 12 and a body portion 14 comprising arms 16. On each arm 16 is provided clip means 18.

As shown in Figure 4 clips means 18 consist of fingers 20 and 22. Ends 24 and 25 of fingers 20 and 22 are spaced apart and ends 26 and 27 of fingers 20 and 22 are adjacent to each other. As is shown in Figures 1 and 2 gussets 19 are provided which extend from arms 16 to fingers 20 and 22. Gussets 19 help provide additional strength. In addition, to provide further strength arms 16 are provided with strengthening ribs 15 and fingers 20 and 22 are provided with strengthening ribs 17.

As can be more clearly seen in Figure 3 arm 16 branches at points forming arms 28 and 30 within which is positioned clip means 18. As can be seen the distance from point 34 and 32 to clip means 18 is greater than the distance from points 36 an 38 to the clip means 18.

Ends 26 and 27 of fingers 20 and 22 are provided with engaging teeth 34.

As will be readily envisaged bringing end 24 and 25 of fingers 22 and 24 together will cause torsional forces to be produced in branches 28 and 30. These forces will act to urge end 26 and 27 of fingers 20 and 22 back towards each other.

Figure 5 shows a garment hanger 40 comprising a hook 42 and a body portion 44 comprising arms 46. The arms 46 are provided with clip means 48.

As is shown in Figure 7 clip means 48 consist of fingers 50 and 52. Ends 54 and 55 of fingers 50 and 52 are spaced apart whilst ends 56 and 57 of fingers 50 and 52 are adjacent each other. Projections 58 and 60 are provided at ends 56 and 57 of fingers 50 and 52.

Projections 58 and 60 project into the space between fingers 50 and 52 and towards ends 54 and 55.

A flexible bar 62 extends between fingers 50 and 52 and provides a point about which arms 50 and 52 pivot when ends 54 and 55 are brought together.

As is more clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6 arm 46 is split into branches 64 and 66. Branch 66 is connected to finger 50 of clip means 48 whilst branch 64 is connected to finger 52 of clip means 48. As will be envisaged, bringing ends 54 and 55 of fingers 50 and 52 together will cause torsional forces to be produced in branches 64 and 66. These forces will act to urge ends 56 and 57 of fingers 50 and 52 towards each other.

As shown in Figure 8 garment hanger 70 comprises a hook 72 and a body portion 74 comprising arms 76. Each arm 76 is provided with clip means 78.

Turning to Figure 10 the clip means 78 consists of fingers 80 and 82. Ends 84 and 85 of fingers 80 and 82 are spaced apart whilst ends 86 and 87 of fingers 80 and 82 are adjacent each other. Ends 86 and 87 are provided with engaging teeth 92.

Fingers 80 and 82 are connected together by means of a socket extending from finger 80 and a ball 90 extending from finger 82. This ball and socket joint 88 and 90 provides the point about which fingers 80 and 82 pivot when ends 84 and 85 are brought together.

As is best shown in Figures 8 and 9 arms 76 forms branches 94, 96 and 98 at the end remote from hook 72. Branches 94 and 98 are connected to finger 80 of clip means 78 whilst branch 96 is connected to finger 82 of clip means 78.

As will be appreciated bringing ends 84 and 85 of fingers 80 and 82 together creates torsional forces in branches 94, 96 and 98. These torsional forces act to urge ends 86 and 87 of fingers 80 and 82 towards each other.

As shown in Figure 11 the garment hanger 100 comprises a hook 102 and a body 104 comprising arms 106. On each of arms 106 is provided clip means 108. Arms 106 form branches to form branch 110 and 114 at the end remote from hook 102. Branch 110 is provided with openings 112. Branch 114 is provided with similar openings (not shown). As is more clearly shown in Figure 13 clip means 108 consists of fingers 116 and 118. Ends 120 and 121 of fingers 116 and 118 are spaced apart whilst ends 122 and 123 of fingers 116 and 118 are adjacent each other. Projections 124 and 126 are provided on ends 122 and 123. Projections 124 and 126 project into the space between fingers 116 and 118 and towards ends 120 and 121.

Fingers 116 and 118 are connected by a flexible bar 128 extending from finger 116 to finger 118. Bar 128 provides the point about which fingers 116 and 118 pivot when ends 120 and 121 are brought together. Fingers 116 and 118 are provided with protuberances 130 and 132 respectively. Protuberance 130 is adapted to releasably engage opening 112 in branch 110 protuberance 132 is adapted to releasably engage similar openings in branch 114. As will be appreciated this releasable engagement enables the position of the clip means 108 to be adjusted.

As shown in Figure 14 garment hanger 140 comprises hook 142 and body 141 comprising arms 144. Clip means 146 are provided on arms 144. Arms 144 form branches 148 and 150 at the end remote from hook 142. Branches 148 and 150 form a loop 152.

As is shown in Figure 16 clip means 146 consists of fingers 154 and 156. Ends 158 and 159 of fingers 154 and 156 are spaced apart whilst ends 160 and 162 of fingers 154 and 156 are adjacent each other. Ends 160 and 162 are provided with engaging teeth 164.

Finger 154 is provided with protuberances 166 and 168 which extend towards finger 156. Protuberances 166 and 168 form the point about which fingers 154 and 156 pivot when ends 158 and 159 are brought together.

As is more clearly shown in Figure 15 finger 154 is connected to branch 148 and finger 156 is connected to branch 150. Protuberance 166 is provided at one edge of finger 154 whilst protuberance 168 is provided at the other edge.

By making use of torsional forces to operate the clips of the garment hangers of the present invention, relatively robust and simple to manufacture clip garment hangers can be produced. As will be recognised by persons skilled in the art, plastic material is relatively

resistant to breakage under torsional stress. This greater ability to resist breakage enables clip hangers to be formed of clear styrene, a relatively brittle substance, while still forming a relatively robust clip. In addition, the use of torsional forces to operate the clip results in a clip which is resistant to creep, ie. the clip can be used with large and small garments alternately without the clip losing its grip. This is, at least, in part due to the fact that the torsional forces are along the flow lines of the plastic.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the artthat numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive.