Patent Application
20070000957
The present invention relates to hangers generally, and more particularly to hangers having removal-resistant information marker holders.
Garment hangers with information markers or tabs are known. Such information markers are used to associate a hanger with a particularly sized garment, i.e., small, medium, large, extra large and so on. The distinguishing features on the markers may be words that designate a size, or a different color used for each size, or a combination of words and colors as the case may be.
For ease of manufacture and assembly, an information marker is usually shaped like a clip that is slipped onto an information marker holder formed on the hanger. The information marker is secured to the information marker holder usually through a combination of the design of the information marker holder and the information marker.
In other words, barriers are designed into the hanger near the attachment location of the information marker to prevent a so-called “finger purchase” of the information marker, which would allow someone to easily remove the information marker from the hanger.
Much effort has been directed to designing hangers and information markers that are child-resistant, wherein the information marker is difficult to remove by a child without at least the use of a tool. Because the information markers are relatively small and usually brightly colored, there is always a concern that a child will attempt to remove an information marker from a hanger and swallow and/or choke on the same. Thus, there is a need to insure that a hanger designed to accommodate an information marker is designed to prevent inadvertent or unintentional removal of the information marker. The present inventors have fulfilled such need with the unique hanger design of the present invention.
The following detailed description is of the best mode or modes of the invention presently contemplated. Such description is not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but to be an example of the invention presented solely for illustration thereof, and by reference to which in connection with the following description and the accompanying drawings one skilled in the art may be advised of the advantages and construction of the invention. In the various views of the drawings, like reference characters designate like or similar parts.
A web 80 is defined between said first and second supports 60, 70 respectively and is preferably bounded between an upper surface 66 defined along said first support 60, a lower surface 76 defined along said second support 70 and an intersection 82 defined between said first and second supports 60, 70 near the base 64 of the first support 60.
An information marker holder 90 extends between said first and second supports 60, 70 for supporting an information marker 100 (shown in
In the embodiments shown in the figures provided herein, information marker holder 90 is spaced from the web 80 by a gap 110, which gap 110 is bounded by the upper and lower surfaces 66, 76 of the first and second supports 60, 70, and edges 84, 94 of the web 80 and information marker holder 90 respectively. Disposed in gap 110 are web projections 112a and 112b, collectively web projections 112, to further aid as a removal deterrent.
The presence of a gap 110 between the web 80 and information marker holder 90 is not a critical feature of the present invention, but is merely reflective of the embodiments described herein. For instance, the garment hanger of the present invention could be configured so that the web terminates at the information marker holder as is known in the art (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,583 to Zuckerman).
The discussion above reflects the basic elements of prior art hangers having information marker holders. Using
This is usually accomplished by providing a raised ridge (not shown) along the edge 84 of the web 80 on each side of the hanger 50, which prevents access to the edges of the information marker 100. Such raised ridge (not shown) usually extends along the edge 80 from the first support 60 to the second support 70 along the same direction as the information marker holder 90, and is usually positioned parallel to the information marker holder 90. This may also be accomplished by web projections 112a and 112b that further deter removal by reducing gap 110.
In the garment hanger of the present invention as shown in the embodiments of
Referring now to
Projections 92 are disposed bilaterally about information marker holder 90 preferably near the exterior free-edge 91 of holder 90 as seen in
Therein, information marker 100 is secured to garment hanger 50 by sliding the marker over projections 92. Since marker 100 is usually in the form of a C-shaped clip, it is able to smoothly slide over projections 92. The edges of marker 100 are then retained in gap 110 while projections 92 are advantageously disposed so as to be near the back of the C-shaped marker 100 where marker 100 is at its maximal interior width.
When a furtive attempt is made to remove information marker 100 it typically requires opening marker 100 wide by pulling the sides apart causing a hinging of the back of marker 100. If the attempt succeeds in removing marker 100 from gap 110, projections 92 present a further challenge because of their position near the widest part of information marker holder 90, their cooperative structure, and sharp edged shape. Thus, the sides of marker 100 would have to be further spread apart to fit over projections 92. This may result in the advantageous aborting of the removal attempt because of its difficulty or in the breaking of marker 100, wherein interest may be lost in retaining marker 100 and subsequently posing a hazard to a child or other person.
It is contemplated that multiple cooperating projections 92 may also be placed near free edge 91 of holder 90 or spaced slightly from the edge.
This application is a non-provisional counterpart to and claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 60/666,688 filed Mar. 30, 2005, which is pending and which is herein incorporated by reference. This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 29/197,087 filed Jan. 9, 2004, which is pending and which is herein incorporated by reference. This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 29/219,737 filed Dec. 21, 2004, which is pending and which is herein incorporated by reference. This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 10/465,694 filed Jun. 19, 2003, which is pending and which is herein incorporated by reference. U.S. Ser. No. 10/465,694 is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 29/157,009, now U.S. Pat. No. D500,413, filed Mar. 12, 2002.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60666688 | Mar 2005 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 29219737 | Dec 2004 | US |
| Child | 11394344 | Mar 2006 | US |
| Parent | 29157009 | Mar 2002 | US |
| Child | 10465694 | Jun 2003 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 29197087 | Jan 2004 | US |
| Child | 11394344 | Mar 2006 | US |
| Parent | 10465694 | Jun 2003 | US |
| Child | 11394344 | Mar 2006 | US |
