Garment hangers have a general shape comprising a pair of arms extending from a shield area and a suspension hook from the shield area for supporting the hanger on a rail or a hook. The shape, size and angles of the arms have been altered from time to time to suit different garments and garment retaining clips and tactile surfaces have been provided to increase garment hold.

It is important that garments can be easily removed from and reattached to garment hangers both for retail assistants and for customers. Another important requirement of garment hangers is that they be recyclable.

One of the problems with known retail garment hangers is that often the easiest area that can be gripped for removing the hanger from a rail, rack or hook is covered by the garment on the hanger, so that the garment can be frequently touched by customers'and retail assistants'hands. That can spoil the appearance of the garment as well as damage or dirty the garment, thus rendering it unsaleable.

Another problem arises when groups of garments on hangers are to be moved together. Special devices have to be provided to which the hangers are attached and the special device used to carry the group of hangers. It is inconvenient to have to put the hangers onto and then remove them from the special carrying device.

An object of this invention is to provide a garment hanger that may overcome one or more of the above-mentioned problems.

According to a first aspect of this invention there is provided a garment hanger having a suspension hook from a shield area and a pair or arms extending opposite from either side of the shield area, the hanger including one or more apertures associated with the shield area.

The apertures may be open or closed. Open apertures may be useful for attachment of garment straps to the hanger and open or closed apertures may provide finger locations for lifting and moving hangers by hand without having to touch the garment.

Furthermore, a group of hangers may be connected by means of a connecting member through aligned apertures of the hangers. The connecting member can be a rod, bar, strap, peg or the like.

According to a second aspect of this invention there is provided a plastics garment hanger having a detachable plastics suspension hook.

The hanger preferably has a slot in a top surface into which the suspension hook can be fitted. The suspension hook preferably has a pair of resiliently deformable members that can be pushed through the slot to spring back behind edges of the slot to retain the suspension hook.

Garment hangers according to this second aspect of the invention may be hangers according to the first aspect of the invention.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention opposite sides of the shield area have open apertures. These apertures may be formed by shaped fingers that extend from the arms or the shield area of the hanger and are generally bent or inclined towards the suspension hook. Free ends of these limbs may be locatable in recesses, slots or the like of the shield area to close the apertures.

The apertures of the hangers of the invention may be used as locations for label plaques. The plaques preferably have formations thereon allowing them to be snap-fitted into the apertures.

The apertures may be provided as part of separate components or formed by addition of separate components to the suspension hooks or shield areas of the hangers.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention garment hangers may have one or more finger apertures provided on the shield area. These apertures may be used for receiving a connecting member to group hangers together.

The apertures may be in the form of slots between upstands and shield areas of hangers. One or more upstands may be provided either side of the shield area. The upstands may be shaped to match the peripheral shape of the shield area.

The upstands may include one or more holes, which may be useful for receiving security wires or the like or product labels, strings or plastics loops.

The hangers of the invention may include additional through holes preferably below the above-mentioned slots to provide locations for rods, straps or the like for linking hangers together.

Garment hangers of the invention may be provided with other garment hanger features rendering them suitable for different types of garment. For example, hangers of the invention may include trouser rails and they may include additional slots or clips for receiving garment straps.

Garment hangers of the invention may also be expandable, such as of the type shown in W099/17644.

Garment hangers of the invention can be made of any desired cross- section, such as U-section, C-section or t-section.

This invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 shows a first garment hanger of the invention; Figure 2 shows a second garment hanger of the invention; Figure 3 shows a third garment hanger of the invention; Figure 4 shows a fourth garment hanger of the invention; Figure 5 shows a fifth garment hanger of the invention; Figure 6 shows a sixth garment hanger of the invention ; Figure 7 shows a seventh garment hanger of the invention; Figure 8 shows an eighth garment hanger of the invention; Figure 9 shows a ninth garment hanger of the invention; Figure 10 shows a tenth garment hanger of the invention; Figure 11 shows an eleventh garment hanger of the invention suitable for receiving a label plaque ; Figure 12A, B and C are respectively front, side and rear views of a label plaque for the hanger of Figure 11; Figure 13 shows the hanger of Figure 11 with a label plaque fitted ; Figure 14 shows a prior art hanger; Figures 15A to 19B show the prior art hanger of Figure 14 modified in different ways to form garment hangers of the invention; Figure 20 shows a twelfth hanger of the invention; Figure 21 shows the hanger of Figure 20 with connecting means; Figure 22 shows hangers of Figure 20 connected as a group ; Figure 23 shows a variation on the connecting means; Figure 24 shows a thirteenth hanger of the invention; Figure 25 shows a fourteenth hanger of the invention; Figure 26 shows a fifteenth hanger of the invention; Figure 27 shows a sixteenth hanger of the invention; Figure 28 shows a seventeenth hanger of the invention; Figure 29 shows an eighteenth hanger of the invention; Figure 30 shows a nineteenth hanger of the invention; Figure 31 shows a twentieth hanger of the invention; Figure 32 shows a twenty-first hanger of the invention; Figure 33 shows a twenty-second hanger of the invention; Figure 34 shows a twenty-third hanger of the invention; Figure 35 shows a twenty-fourth hanger of the invention; Figure 36 shows a twenty-fifth hanger of the invention; Figure 37 shows a twenty-sixth hanger of the invention; Figure 38 shows a twenty-seventh hanger of the invention; Figure 39 shows a twenty-eighth hanger of the invention; Figure 40 shows a twenty-ninth hanger of the invention; Figure 41 shows a thirtieth hanger of the invention; Figure 42 shows a thirty-first hanger of the invention; Figure 43 shows a thirty-second hanger of the invention; Figure 44 shows a thirty-third hanger of the invention; Figure 45 shows a thirty-fourth hanger of the invention; Figure 46 shows a thirty-fifth hanger of the invention; Figure 47 shows a first expandable hanger of the invention; Figures 48A and B show a second expandable hanger of the invention retracted and expanded respectively.

Figures 49A, B, and C show a first hanger of the invention with a plastics suspension hook; Figures 50A, B and C show a second hanger of the invention with a plastics hook.

Figures 51A, B and C show a third hanger of the invention with a plastics suspension hook.

Figures 52A and B show a fourth hanger of the invention with a plastics suspension hook; Figures 53A and B show a fifth hanger of the invention with a plastics suspension hook; Figures 54A to F show respectively, front, top plan, rear and sectional views of a plastics suspension hook for the hangers of Figures 52 and 53; Figures 55A, B and C show respectively the hanger of either Figure 52 or 53 with plastics suspension hook, in section with the hook fitted and in front elevation with the hook fitted; Figures 56A and B show front and end views of a trouser hanger of the invention; Figure 57 is a front view of a tops hanger of the invention; Figure 58 is a front view of a tops and skirt hanger of the invention; Figure 59 shows a variation on the hanger of Figure 58; Figure 60 is a front view of a waist hanger of the invention with plastics label attached; Figures 61,62 and 63 are respectively top plan, front and end views of a jacket hanger of the invention with plastics label attached; Figures 64A, B and C are respectively front, top plan and end views of the plastics label on the hanger of Figures 61 to 63; Figure 65 shows a jacket hanger with trouser bar according to the invention; Figure 66 shows a connecting strap for hangers of the Figure 65 type; Figure 67 shows hangers of the Figure 65 type connected together; and Figure 68 shows another expandable hanger according to the invention.

Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a garment hanger 10 has a suspension hook 12 from shield area 14 and from opposite sides of the shield area garment carrying arms 16. Connecting opposite ends of the arms is a trouser bar 18. Near their ends on a top surface, the arms have slots 22 for garment straps. The shield area has on either side thereof apertures 24 formed by fingers 26 that curve towards the suspension hook. The apertures 24 are open and may be used for attachment of garment straps therein.

It is to be noted that in subsequent drawings, the suspension hook has been omitted or is shown partially. Furthermore, variations from previous drawings will be described in detail and like parts, such as the suspension shield area and arms, are given the same reference numbers throughout for simplicity.

In Figure 2, hanger 28 has fingers 30 extending from the arms 16 to form apertures 32 that are larger than in the previous embodiment and provide not only garment strap locations but also finger holds for carrying the hanger. This hanger also has a trouser bar 18. Extending from where the trouser bar and arms meet are fingers 34 whose free ends lie in recesses 36 in the underside of arms 16. These fingers 34 provide further locations for attachment of garment straps.

Figure 3 shows a hanger 40 that has a similar arrangement of the shield area as in the embodiment of Figure 1, except that apertures 24 are slightly larger. Instead of a trouser bar, the hanger has on the underside of each arm 16, parallel bars 42 that have their free ends able to snap-fit to retainers 44.

In Figure 4, hanger 50 has its aperture forming fingers 26 with enlarged free ends 52 and has garment strap clips 54 on the underside of each arm 16.

Figure 5 shows a hanger 60 with a trouser bar 18. The top of the shield area 14 has a pair of generally circular apertures 24.

In Figure 6, hanger 66 has a detachable trouser bar 18 and extending from the shield area and parallel to the undersides of arms 16 are bars 68.

Hanger 70 of Figure 7 has a slightly wider shield area than the previous embodiments and its arms 16 have clips 72 in through slots 74 at the ends of the arms.

In Figure 8, hanger 80 has a generally rectangular shield 14. Limbs 26 forming apertures 24 extend to lie over the top edge of the shield but are not connected there.

Figure 9 shows a variation on Figure 8, in which the limbs 26 of hanger 90 can have their free ends located in slots 92 on opposite sides of the shield, whereby the apertures 24 can be open or closed.

Hanger 96 of Figure 10 has more substantial fingers 26 than previous embodiments and has on its arms 16 both clips 54 and 72 of the type shown in Figure 4 and Figure 7 respectively.

Turning to Figures 11 to 13 of the accompanying drawings, a garment hanger 100 has its shield area 14 formed with two closed sided apertures 102.

The arms 16 of the hanger have a pair of fingers 34 of the type shown in Figure 2, although the trouser bar is missing.

The apertures 102 can be used for carrying the hanger by ones'fingers, but can also receive a label plaque 104 as shown in Figures 12A to C. The plaque 104 has a protrusion 106 on its rear face shaped to snap-fit into an aperture 102.

The label plaque is intended to be replaceable, so that the information on the label can be changed according to the garment being carried on the hanger.

Figure 14 shows a basic prior art hanger 110 and Figures 15 to 19 show how the hanger 110 can be varied by addition of various components 112,114, 116,118,120,122,124,126,128 and 130 respectively that snap-fit onto the suspension hook 12 of the hanger to provide either one (Figures 15B, 16B, 17B, 18B, and 19B) or two (Figures 15A, 16A, 17A, 18A and 19A closed or open sided apertures 24.

An alternative form of attachment of the various components may be into one or more slots of the shield area.

Figures 20 to 23 of the accompanying drawings illustrate how a group of hangers may be carried. Hanger 120 has on its shield 14 a single circular aperture 24 to one side of suspension hook 12. The aperture can be used to carry a single hanger by means of a finger but to carry groups of hangers, a peg 142 can be inserted through aligned apertures 24 of hangers 140. The peg 142 has an enlarged end 144 to prevent it passing through the apertures 24 and a strap 146 to fit through hole 148 near the other end of the peg to retain a collar 150 on the peg to retain the hangers on the peg.

In Figure 23, the peg 142 has a carrying hook 152 that slots into the end of the peg.

Figures 24 to 27,29 and 31 show garment hangers 160,170,180,190, 200 and 210 of a similar type to that shown in Figure 20 all except that of Figure 31 being without a trouser bar.

Hanger 160 has garment strap clips 162 on the underside of each arm 16. Hanger 170 is similar except that its clips 172 have a mid-point lug 174 to provide for alternative attachment widths.

Hangers 180 and 190 have respectively two and one garment clips 182 on the underside of their arms 16. Hanger 200 has not only underside clips 172 of the type shown in Figure 25 but also pairs of clips 204,206 on the top side of each hanger arm.

It is to be noted that hanger 170 is of C-section, whereas hanger 200 is of t-section.

Figure 28 shows a hanger 220 that has an enlarged aperture 222 formed above and extending across the width of the shield area 14.

Figure 30 of the drawings shows a hanger 230 that has its aperture 24 formed by bars 236 extending from the shield 14 parallel to the tops of the arms 16. Corresponding bars 238 extend upwardly from the free ends of the arms 16.

Garment straps can loop over one set of bars and be entwined between the other bars and the hanger arms allowing the garment to self-level.

The hanger 240 of Figure 32 has a variety of features that may be incorporated individually or in selected combinations in hangers of the invention.

The hanger has an aperture 24 over the shield area 14 similar to that of the Figure 28 embodiment but shallower. The hanger has a trouser bar 18.

Ends of the hanger arms have garment strap clips 72 on the front of the arms, as in the embodiments of Figures 7 and 10 of the drawings. Extending inwardly from the free ends of the arm 16 are snap-lockable strap retaining members 240.

In Figures 33 to 40 of the accompanying drawings, hangers 250,260, 270,280,290,300,310 and 320 respectively have pairs of apertures 24 formed with various shapes and sizes. Hanger 250 is of C-section, whereas hanger 290 is of U-section.

Figures 41 to 46 of the drawings continue to show variations of hangers according to the invention. Hangers 330,350 and 370 have snap-lockable garment strap locations 332 either above or below their arms 16 as well non- lockable garment strap locations on the opposite sides of the arms. Hanger 350 has a pair of upstands 352 either side of shield area 14 providing garment strap locations.

Figures 47 and 48 of the drawings show expandable hangers 380 and 390 respectively. Hanger 380 has a single aperture 24, whereas hanger 390 has two, one on each side of the shield 14.

Finally, in Figures 49 to 55 the drawings show hangers with plastics suspension hooks that are formed separately from the hanger shield and arms and attached later to complete the hangers.

In Figure 49 a hanger 400 has a slot in the top of its shield area 14 into which a suspension hook body 402 (see Figure 49B) is fitted. The hook body has a depending limb 404 from the free end of which extend upwardly curved flexible arms 406 that leave a gap between their free ends and the underside of the body 402. The slot in the shield area is slightly narrower than the widest span of the arms 406, so that the arms 406 are forced towards each other as they are pushed into the slot before expanding again when they have passed the edges of the slot, which are then trapped between the free ends of the arms and the underside of the body 402.

The hook body 402 includes an aperture 24 for use in carrying the hanger 400.

Figures 50 and 51 of the drawings show variations on the shapes of the arms 406 of the hook body.

In Figures 52 and 53 the arms 16 of hanger bodies 500 and 510 respectively are straight and angled relative to their shields 14 but each has a pair of upstands 512 on opposite sides of the shield area. The hook body 402 shown in detail in Figures 54A to F is the same as shown in Figure 49B and Figures 55A to C show the hangers of either Figures 52 or 53 with the hook of Figure 54 added.

The upstands 512 form slots either side of the shield area 516 of the hangers of Figures 52 and 53 which can be used to hold halter neck garments or for the attachment of plastics labels.

In Figures 56A and B a trouser hanger 540 is shown which has arms 542 extending from opposite side of a shield area 544. The shield area has a boss 546 for attachment of a metal hook (not shown). The arms 542 are returned at their ends and a cross bar 548 links the returns.

Either side of the shield area are upstands 550 that form slots 552 with the opposite edges of the shield. Located on the shield is a plastics label or badge 554, which can carry product information or store logo or any other indicia. The label 554 has a central plaque area 556 and arms 558 extending from opposite edges thereof that are shaped to locate in the slots 552. Figures 64A, B and C show this type of label in more detail and will be described later.

Figure 57 shows a single tops hanger 580 with arms 582 extending from shield areas 584. Either side of the shield area are upstands 586 forming slots 588. Note the sloping of the outer edges of the upstands 586 to make the outer shape of the shield area.

The hanger 580 can also accommodate a plastics label of the type shown in Figure 64. The slots 588 can be used to retain straps of dresses or tops, especially of the halter neck type.

The hanger of Figure 58 is similar to that of Figure 57 but has additional garment straps clips 500 on the underside of each arm 602.

Hanger 608 of Figure 59 is similar to that of Figure 58 except that instead of having provision for a metal hook, it has its hook 610 integrally moulded.

Figure 60 of the drawings show a fixed waist hanger 620 having arms 622 from opposite sides of shield 624. The shield 624 has a boss 626 for receiving a metal hook (now shown). Ends of the arms 622 have waistband engaging forms 630 thereon. The shield 624 has a plastics label 632 fitted thereto being of the same type as shown in Figure 64 (see below).

Referring to Figures 61 to 64, a jacket hanger 700 has arms 702 from opposite sides of shield area 704. The arms are curved and shaped for a jacket.

Either side of the shield area 702 are upstands 705 that form slots 706 fixed to the shield area in a label 708. The label has an oval plaque 710 and arms 712.

The arms 712 extend outwardly and then downwardly. The downwardly extending parts 714 of the arms have inner and outer ribs 716,718 thereon but offset so that the outer ribs are nearer the plaque but the inner ribs are at the ends of the parts 714. At the base of each slot 706 is an aperture into which the inner ribs 716 snap fit, whilst the outer ribs 718 act as stops so that the label 708 is correctly positioned over the shield area 704. The downwardly extending parts 714 of the arms are at right angles to the first parts of the arms, so that they lie against the sides of the shield area.

Turning to Figures 65 to 67, a garment hanger 800 has a bottom rail 802 and strap clips 804 on the underside of arms 806. Adjacent opposite sides of shield area 808 are pairs of upstands 810,812. Below slots 814 formed between innermost upstands 810 and the shield area 808 are through holes 816, which can be used to take straps 818 to connect together a series of hangers 800 for transportation as shown in Figure 67.

Finally, Figure 68 shows an expandable hanger 900 with integrally formed plastics hook 902 and shield area 904. Either side of the shield area 904 are upstands or tabs 906, each having a hole 908 therethrough. The holes 908 can be used for attachment of labels using string, plastics loops or the like or for security wires or the like.

It will be appreciated that where the various features shown herein are applied to one particular hanger type, they may be applied to any of the other hanger types shown herein where appropriate or desirable.