GB2167659A

GB2167659A - Hangers for clothing

Info

Publication number: GB2167659A
Application number: GB08527544A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jacobus Antonie Stiglingh; Henry John Louw
Original assignee: POLYOAK PRODUCTS
Current assignee: POLYOAK PRODUCTS
Priority date: 1984-11-08
Filing date: 1985-11-08
Publication date: 1986-06-04
Also published as: GB8527544D0

Abstract

A clothes hanger 10 comprises a horizontal beam or bar 12 and suspension means 14, 16 for suspending the beam 12 from a support, such as a display bar. Gripping members 18, 20 being integral parts of the beam 12, are provided at or near each end of said beam for releasably gripping an article of clothing. Biasing means for biasing each gripping member 18, 20 into a gripping condition may comprise a U- or V-shaped spring 39 having the end of one of its legs located against a stop 43. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to hangers The present invention relates to hangers, and more particularly the invention relates to hangers for clothing.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a hanger includes a beam; suspension means for suspending the beam from a support, such as a display bar; a gripping member provided at or near each end of the beam for releasably gripping onto an article of clothing, and being integrally formed with the beam; and biasing means for biasing each gripping member into a gripping condition.

The beam and gripping members may be integrally produced from any suitable synthetic plastics material.

Each gripping member may have two spaced arms with opposite end faces, one pair of end faces of the arms facing towards each other and being provided with gripping formations, such as serrations; an intermediate bridge joining the arms, about which bridge the arms are adapted to pivot; and biasing means being adapted to act between the arms on the side of the intermediate bridge opposite to the gripping faces for urging the arms into a gripping position.

The biasing may be in the form of a spring element, such as a U-shaped or V-shaped spring element or a coil spring, preferably made of steel spring.

The ends of the legs of the V- or U-shaped spring may be respectively located against a stop provided on at least one of the arms.

The legs of the V- or U-shaped spring may face away from the intermediate bridge.

The or each gripping member may be provided at an end of the beam.

The suspension member may be in the form of a hook, preferably made of metal.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a hanger includes a beam; suspension means for suspending the beam from a support, such as a display bar; a gripping member provided at or near each end of the beam for releasably gripping onto an article of clothing, and being integrally formed with the beam; and locating means adapted for locating biasing means for baising each gripping member into a gripping condition.

The invention also extends to a spring adapted for fitting between the arms of the gripping member of a hanger as set out herein.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a hanger in accordance with the invention; and, Figure 2 is an end view of the hanger seen along arrow II in Figure 1 but with the upper part of the suspension hook cut off.

Referring to the drawings, the hanger 10 includes a horizontal beam or bar 12 having a central suspension part 14 to which a suspension hook 16 is attached. At the ends of the beam 12 identical gripping members 18 and 20 are located. Each gripping member has two arms 22,24 which are joined by means of an intermediate bridge 26.

The arms 22 and 24 have gripping parts 28 and 30, which have associated gripping faces 32, 34 having serrations as shown.

The arms 22 and 24 are adapted to pivot about the intermediate bridge 26 as indicated by arrows 36 and 38.

The arms 22,24, as shown in Figure 2 are in the open position. A U-shaped spring element 39 is fitted between the spring engaging parts 40,42 of the arms. The spring 39 engages with the end face of one leg 39.1 against the stop 43 on the arm 22. The other leg 39.2 abuts against the inner face of the leg 24. Thereby the parts 40,42 are biased outwardly so that the gripping faces 32,34 are pressed together.

When an article of clothing is to be gripped between the parts 28, 30, the parts 40, 42 are pressed towards each other against the biasing action of the spring 39 so that a gap 45 (as shown in Figure 2) is formed between the gripping faces 32, 34. Then an article of clothing may be inserted and, on releasing the parts 40,42, the biasing action of the spring 39 will cause the faces 32, 34 to move together so as to grip the article of clothing.

The beam 12, the suspension formation 14, and the gripping members 18 and 20 are integrally formed from synthetic plastics meterial. The hook 16 is a metal hook attached separately thereto.

The spring 39 is made of flat spring steel and is of V-shape.

1. A hanger, which includes a beam; suspension means for suspending the beam from a support, such as a display bar; a gripping member provided at or near each end of the beam for releasably gripping onto an article of clothing, and being integrally formed with the beam; and biasing means for biasing each gripping member into a gripping condition.

2. A hanger as claimed in Claim 1, in which the beam and gripping members are integrally produced from any suitable synthetic plastics material.

3. A hanger as claimed in Claim 1 or in Claim 2, in which each gripping member has two spaced arms with opposite end faces, one pair of end faces of the arms facing towards each other and being provided with gripping formations, such as serrations; and intermediate bridge joining the arms, about which bridge the arms are adapted to pivot; and biasing means being adapted to act between the arms on the side of the intermediate bridge opposite to the gripping faces for urging the arms into a gripping position.

4. A hanger as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the biasing means is in the form of a spring element.

5. A hanger as claimed in Claim 4, in which the spring is a U-shaped or V-shaped element or a coil spring, preferably made of spring steel.

6. A hanger as claimed in Claim 5, in which the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to hangers The present invention relates to hangers, and more particularly the invention relates to hangers for clothing. According to a first aspect of the present invention, a hanger includes a beam; suspension means for suspending the beam from a support, such as a display bar; a gripping member provided at or near each end of the beam for releasably gripping onto an article of clothing, and being integrally formed with the beam; and biasing means for biasing each gripping member into a gripping condition. The beam and gripping members may be integrally produced from any suitable synthetic plastics material. Each gripping member may have two spaced arms with opposite end faces, one pair of end faces of the arms facing towards each other and being provided with gripping formations, such as serrations; an intermediate bridge joining the arms, about which bridge the arms are adapted to pivot; and biasing means being adapted to act between the arms on the side of the intermediate bridge opposite to the gripping faces for urging the arms into a gripping position. The biasing may be in the form of a spring element, such as a U-shaped or V-shaped spring element or a coil spring, preferably made of steel spring. The ends of the legs of the V- or U-shaped spring may be respectively located against a stop provided on at least one of the arms. The legs of the V- or U-shaped spring may face away from the intermediate bridge. The or each gripping member may be provided at an end of the beam. The suspension member may be in the form of a hook, preferably made of metal. According to a second aspect of the present invention, a hanger includes a beam; suspension means for suspending the beam from a support, such as a display bar; a gripping member provided at or near each end of the beam for releasably gripping onto an article of clothing, and being integrally formed with the beam; and locating means adapted for locating biasing means for baising each gripping member into a gripping condition. The invention also extends to a spring adapted for fitting between the arms of the gripping member of a hanger as set out herein. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a hanger in accordance with the invention; and, Figure 2 is an end view of the hanger seen along arrow II in Figure 1 but with the upper part of the suspension hook cut off. Referring to the drawings, the hanger 10 includes a horizontal beam or bar 12 having a central suspension part 14 to which a suspension hook 16 is attached. At the ends of the beam 12 identical gripping members 18 and 20 are located. Each gripping member has two arms 22,24 which are joined by means of an intermediate bridge 26. The arms 22 and 24 have gripping parts 28 and 30, which have associated gripping faces 32, 34 having serrations as shown. The arms 22 and 24 are adapted to pivot about the intermediate bridge 26 as indicated by arrows 36 and 38. The arms 22,24, as shown in Figure 2 are in the open position. A U-shaped spring element 39 is fitted between the spring engaging parts 40,42 of the arms. The spring 39 engages with the end face of one leg 39.1 against the stop 43 on the arm 22. The other leg 39.2 abuts against the inner face of the leg 24. Thereby the parts 40,42 are biased outwardly so that the gripping faces 32,34 are pressed together. When an article of clothing is to be gripped between the parts 28, 30, the parts 40, 42 are pressed towards each other against the biasing action of the spring 39 so that a gap 45 (as shown in Figure 2) is formed between the gripping faces 32, 34. Then an article of clothing may be inserted and, on releasing the parts 40,42, the biasing action of the spring 39 will cause the faces 32, 34 to move together so as to grip the article of clothing. The beam 12, the suspension formation 14, and the gripping members 18 and 20 are integrally formed from synthetic plastics meterial. The hook 16 is a metal hook attached separately thereto. The spring 39 is made of flat spring steel and is of V-shape. CLAIMS

6. A hanger as claimed in Claim 5, in which the spring is a V-shaped or U-shaped spring of which the ends of the legs are respectively located against a stop provided on at least one of the arms.

7. A hanger as claimed in Claim 6, in which the free ends of the legs of the V-shaped or U-shaped spring face away from the intermediate bridge.

8. A hanger as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the or each gripping member is provided at an end of the beam.

9. A hanger as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims, in which the suspension member is in the form of a hook, preferably made of metal.

10. A hanger substantially as herein described with reference to the accomapnying drawings.

11. A hanger as claimed in Claim 1 and substantially as herein described.

12. A hanger, which includes a beam; suspension means for suspending the beam from a support, such as a display bar; a gripping member provided at or near each end of the beam for releasably gripping onto an article of clothing, and being integrally formed with the beam; and locating means adapted for locating biasing means for biasing each gripping member into a gripping condition.

13. A spring adapted for fitting between the arms of the gripping member of a hanger as claimed in any one of Claims 3,4,5,6 or 7.

14. Aspring substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.