WO1997020486A1

WO1997020486A1 - Indicator device for a garment hanger

Info

Publication number: WO1997020486A1
Application number: PCT/DK1996/000509
Authority: WO
Inventors: Preben Lind
Original assignee: Preben Lind
Priority date: 1995-12-07
Filing date: 1996-12-04
Publication date: 1997-06-12
Also published as: DK139095A; EP0957737A1; AU1065797A; DK172141B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a marking device comprising a first portion (1) with an annular lateral wall (9) that carries a number of mutually spaced marking texts (3), and a second portion (2) with a lateral wall section (11) which may cover the lateral wall (9) of the first portion which carries the marking text, wherein the lateral wall of the second portion is provided with at least one recess (4) that allows reading of a marking text carried on the lateral wall (9) of the first portion, wherein the first and the second portions are provided with mutually co-operating securing devices that allow pivoting of the first and the second portions relative to each other, wherein the first and the second portions, respectively, are provided with central openings (5, 6) which allow mounting of the device on a hanger hook (14), the material (7, 8) around the central opening (5, 6) in the first and the second portions being elastically deformable whereby the marking device may travel over the arched portion of the hanger hook and secured against the rectilinear portion of the hanger hook.

Description

Indicator device for a garment hanger.

The invention relates to a marking device comprising a first portion with an annular lateral wall that carries a number of marking texts located at a distance from each other, and a second portion with a lateral wall section which may cover the lateral side wall of the first portion having marking texts, wherein the lateral wall of the second portion comprises at least one recess that allows reading of a marking text on the lateral wall of the first portion, wherein the first and the second portions are provided with mutually co-operating securing means that allow rotation of the first and the second portions relative to each other, wherein the first and the second portions, respectively, are provided with central openings to allow mounting thereof on the hook of a hanger.

Such marking devices are used e.g. for indicating the size of a garment hung on a clothes hanger.

US patent No. 1,544,844 discloses a device of the kind described above. In the device taught in this disclosure the interior portion is provided with a central opening which corresponds approximately to the diameter of the hook of the hanger onto which the device is to be mounted, and the exterior, second portion is provided with two legs that protrude downwards around the hanger body when mounted on the hook of a hanger. Hereby it is ensured that the device is secured in a stable manner when mounted on the hanger. The securing around the hanger further means that it is possible with one hand to pivot the interior, first portion on which the size marking is located. However, in case the device is made by injection moulding of a plastics material, the production of a marking device like the one featured in the above-cited US patent may be inconvenient, not to say impossible, since the geometry of the two legs will presuppose a sophisticated shaping tool. In connection with very thin hangers, e.g. of a wire material, and very thick hangers it will be impossible to secure the device in a stable manner. Moreover the possibility of pivoting the two portions relative to each other with one hand is undesirable since it is hereby very easy to unintentionally change the setting of the two parts relative to each other.

US patent No. 4,045,899 teaches a single-element size marking device where a size indication is printed on an annular side wall. Thus this known device cannot be set for different size indications. At the upper edge of the annular side wall a surface is provided, wherein said surface comprises four flaps that encircle a central opening intended for the positioning around the hook of a hanger. The flexible flaps serve to ensure that this device may be used for any type or any shape of clothes hanger. It also appears that the flexible flaps ensure that the device is secured in a position at the basis of the hook of the hanger, i.e. at the transition area facing the hanger body.

From GB 1,397,413 a similar one-element device is known, i.e. with no possibility for setting, where the device is provided with an axial opening so dimensioned relative to the hook of a hanger that the device rests on the shoulder of the hanger without tilting. Around the axial opening deformable flaps are provided which serve to ensure that the device may travel over e.g. such cross sectional increases which are found at the outer extremity of the hanger hook. With a view to ensuring the attachment and position of the device relative to the hanger body or the shoulder of the hanger, opposite sides of the device are provided with recesses into which the shoulder may enter.

Thus, it is obvious from US patent No. 4,045,899 and GB patent No. 1,397,413, respectively, that the presence of the flexible flaps around the opening into which the hanger hook is received, ensures that the device may travel over a cross sectional increase and be adapted for various dimensions of the hanger hook. It is also obvious that the presence of these flaps in one plane only, viz. corresponding to the top of the relevant devices, they have to rest on the hanger proper or its shoulder in order to ensure a stable positioning in which the device cannot tilt.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a marking device of the type defined above which will be considerably more simple to manufacture in a plastics injection moulding process, and which upholds its ability to be secured in a stable manner in its position of service on any type of anger. It is moreover the object of the invention to provide a marking device which is not associated with the above-mentioned drawback that it may be set with one hand.

The object of the invention is obtained by means of a marking device of the type described in the introductory part which is characterised in that the material around the central opening in the first and the second portions, respectively, are elastically deformable, whereby the marking device may be travel over the arched portion of the hanger hook and secured against the hanger hook by two mutually spaced areas on the rectilinear portion thereof. Since the first as well as the second portion have elastically deformable material areas around the openings where the hanger hook travels through the device, it is ensured that the device may be mounted on the hanger hook in the assembled state of the two portions. The flexible portions also ensure that the device is secured around the rectilinear and, in a service position, usually vertical portion around the hanger itself. In the absence of legs that protrude downwards around the hanger, it is also ensured that the device according to the invention does not allow the setting to be modified with one hand only.

According to a convenient embodiment of the invention, the flexible material areas in the first and the second portions, respectively, are provided with a number of flaps facing towards the centre of the opening. In the light of these structural characteristics it will be obvious for the skilled person to select a suitable material and on the basis of this to configure the flaps with a suitable thickness to allow them to be flexed during mounting of the device over the arched portion of a hanger hook.

Conveniently the first and second portions have snap locking portions which may be caused to co-operate with each other and which allow separation of the two portions from each other e.g. with a view to applying an exterior portion of a different colour to indicate e.g. items on sale or the like. For the setting of the two portions relative to each other, an indexation system may optionally be provided.

The device may comprise several diametrically opposed marking texts and correspondingly several diametrically opposed recesses in the exterior portion whereby the reading may be carried out from more sides than one.

In order to ensure easy setting of the device according to the invention the inside is provided with an extension which may, when the first and the second portions are assembled, protrude downwards below the lower edge of the second portion. Hereby it is possible to seize this downwardly protruding extension with one's one hand and the other portion with the other hand in order to pivot these portions relative to each other. This means that it takes two hands to manipulate the device which prevents undue pivoting of the two portions relative to each other.

In order to facilitate seizure of the elements, at least the outside of the downwardly protruding extension and optionally also the outside of the second portion is/are provided with a surface pattern that serves to increase friction.

The invention will be explained in the following with reference to the drawings, where:

Figure 1 is a side view of a device according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical, sectional view through the device shown in Figure 1,

Figures 3A and 3B illustrate the interior portion of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2, seen from below and in a vertical, sectional view, respectively. Figures 4A and 4B illustrate the exterior portion of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2, seen from below and in a vertical, sectional view,

Figure 5 is a sectional view of a device according to the invention during mounting over the arched portion of a hanger hook, and

Figure 6 is a sectional view of a device arranged i a position around the rectilinear portion of a hanger hook.

In Figure 1, a side view of a device according to the invention is shown. The device comprises a first portion 1 carrying on an annular outer surface a number of marking texts, in this case a size indication 3. The text may be printed on the first portion or be printed on a band section arranged on the first portion. A second portion 2 is mounted to enclose the first portion. In an annular outer wall of the second portion a recess 4 is provided which allows reading of the marking texts exposed on the lateral wall of the first portion.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a device according to the invention and it will appear that the first portion 1 comprises an outer annular side wall 9 which is in connection with an inner annular side wall 10, the lower region of which being provided with an opening 6. In the circumferential area of this opening 6, four flexible flaps 8 are provided corresponding to the flaps 7 in the exterior portion 2. The exterior portion comprises an annular side wall 11 in which recesses 4 are provided. At the lowermost edge of the annular wall 11, an peripheral area 12 is provided which snap-lockingly co-operates with the lower peripheral area 13 of the lateral wall 9 of the interior portion. The portions 1,2 thus interlocked by a snap-locking effect may hereby be rotated relative to each other and separated with a view to mounting of an exterior portion 2 with e.g. a different colour.

In figures 3A, B and 4A,B, respectively, the two portions are shown, the interior portion and the exterior portion, respectively, seen from the bottom and m vertical, sectional views, and it appears clearly that both portions have four elastically deformable flaps arranged around the passage opening for the hanger hook. The mutual snap-locking engagement of the two portions m the lower regions 12,13 will also be more apparent from these figures.

Prior to mounting, the portions 1,2 are assembled. It will appear from Figure 5 how, during mounting over the arched portion of a hanger hook 14 m the direction of the arrows, the flexible flaps 7 and 8 are deflected and the device is thus allowed to pass.

Figure 6 which illustrates the device in a state mounted around a rectilinear portion of a hanger hook 14 shows that, following travelling over the arched portion of the hanger hook, the flexible flaps 7,8 return to their original position and in this position they secure the device according to the invention m a stable position relative to the rectilinear portion of the hanger hook. The hanger hook shown herein is illustrated when mounted m a transversal portion made e.g. of wood.

Claims

C l a i m s

1. A marking device comprising a first portion (1) with an annular lateral wall (9) on which a number of marking texts (3) are arranged at a distance from each other, and a second portion (2) with a lateral wall section (11) which may cover the lateral wall (9) provided with the marking texts, wherein the lateral wall of said second portion is provided with at least one recess (4) which allows reading of a marking text on the side wall (9) of the first portion, wherein the first and the second portions are provided with mutually co¬ operating securing devices that permit pivoting of the first and the second portions relative to each other, wherein the first and the second portions, respectively, are provided with central openings (5,6) that allow mounting of the device on the hook of a hanger (14, ), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the material (7,8) around the central openings (5,6) m the first and the second portions, respectively, is elastically deformable whereby the marking device may travel over the arched portion of the hanger hook and secured against the hanger hook at two areas arranged at a mutually axial distance on the rectilinear portion thereof.

2. A marking device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d n that the flexible material areas in the first and the second portions

(1,2), respectively, consist of a number of flaps (7,8), preferably four, which face towards the centre of the opening (5,6) .

3. A marking device according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d m that the first and the second portions (1,2) are made w th mutually co-operating snap-locking portions which allow separation of the two portions from each other.

4. A marking device according to claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the exterior portion (2) is provided with two recesses (4) which are diametrically opposite each other, and in that the first portion is provided with identical marking texts (3) on two diametrically opposite sides of the outer circumference of the first portion.

5. A marking device according to claims 1-4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the interior portion is provided with an extension (13) which is, when the first and the second portions are assembled with each other, protruding downwards below the lower edge 12) of the second portion (2) whereby it is possible to seize the downwardly protruding extension (13) and the second portion (2) in order to allow these two portions to be pivoted relative to each other.

6. A marking device according to claims 1-5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that at least the outer surface of the downwardly facing extension (13) on the first portion is provided with a pattern that increases friction in order to facilitate pivoting of the two portions relative to each other.