Sport apparel marketing apparatus

Abstract

A sport apparel marketing apparatus which includes an apparel hanger suitable for displaying and marketing sport apparel. The apparel hanger includes a hook and a primary support member. At least one of the hook and the primary support member is a portion of a sporting good from the sport associated with the sport apparel being marketed. The sport apparel marketing apparatus may further include a cross member which may also be a portion of an associated sporting good. The sport apparel marketing apparatus may also include apparatus for displaying information to potential customers in addition to the apparel hanger.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is directed toward a sport apparel marketing apparatus, and more particularly toward a marketing apparatus including a clothing or accessory hanger having a portion of a sporting good as a functional element.

BACKGROUND ART

The wire coat hanger was invented by Albert J. Parkhouse in 1903. Since that time, numerous patents have been issued for variations on the basic coat hanger design.

A clothing or accessory hanger, when used in a retail clothing or accessory store, may serve two distinct utilitarian purposes. First, a hanger is typically used to conveniently support clothing or accessories without introducing unnecessary wrinkles that would result from folding the clothing and displaying them in rack or shelf type storage. Second, an appropriately placed hanger display can enhance the marketability of certain types of garments for retail sale. A display may attract a potential customer's attention, and thus enhance a merchant's sales success.

Prior art hangers are effective at accomplishing the first utilitarian aspect of a hanger, properly supporting articles of clothing, thus avoiding unnecessary wrinkles. Prior art hangers are, however, somewhat deficient with respect to advancing marketing and display efforts. Typical prior art hangers have nothing which distinguishes them as unique or related to a specific product, and thus prior art hangers do little to attract a customer's attention and enhance the marketability of a product. The present invention is directed toward overcoming one or more of the problems discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is a sport apparel marketing apparatus which includes an apparel hanger suitable for displaying and marketing sport apparel. The apparel hanger includes a hook and a primary support member. At least one of the hook and the primary support member is a portion of a sporting good taken from a sport associated with the sport apparel being marketed. The portion of a sporting good used in the hanger may be an authentic sporting good which has been appropriately modified or it may be a suitably sized facsimile of a real sporting good.

The sport apparel marketing apparatus may further include a cross member which may also be a portion of an associated sporting good. The cross member may be operatively associated with the primary support member such that the apparel hanger may support more than one piece of sport apparel. The cross member may include one or more clamps.

The sport apparel marketing apparatus may also include components in addition to the apparel hanger described above. For example, information concerning the apparel or products may be displayed in an associated display area or tag. Other types of advertising or marketing materials may be associated with the apparel hanger.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method of marketing an item of sport apparel including providing an apparel hanger having a hook and a primary support member suitable for the display and marketing of sport apparel. At least one of the hook and the primary support member is a portion of a real or facsimile sporting good from a sport associated with the sport apparel. The method further includes displaying an item of sport apparel on the apparel hanger at a location visible to potential purchasers, such as a retail sporting goods store.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method of manufacturing a sport apparel marketing apparatus which includes operatively associating a hook with a primary support member to form an apparel hanger. At least one of the primary support member and the hook provided as new materials for the manufacturing process is a portion of a real or facsimile sporting good.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention featuring a cross member;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention featuring a cross member and further featuring an elastic member;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention featuring a cross member fabricated of bicycle spokes;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the cross member of the embodiment of FIG. 4 showing detail with respect to the spokes;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention featuring a cross member fabricated of coiled bicycle spokes;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention featuring a clamp on the cross member;

FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention featuring multiple clamps on the cross member;

FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention featuring multiple magnetic clamps on the cross member;

FIGS. 10-14 are plan views showing hook detail;

FIG. 15 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention featuring an information tag;

FIG. 16 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention suitable for marketing baseball or softball related apparel;

FIG. 17 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention suitable for marketing golf related apparel;

FIG. 18 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention suitable for marketing snow ski related apparel;

FIG. 19 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention suitable for marketing snow ski related apparel;

FIGS. 20A and 20B are front elevation views of embodiments of the present invention suitable for marketing snowboard related apparel;

FIGS. 21A-21D are front elevation view of embodiments of the present invention suitable for marketing fishing related apparel; and

FIG. 22 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention suitable for marketing archery related apparel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

One embodiment of the sport apparel marketing apparatus 10 includes an apparel hanger 12 for an article of clothing or a sport accessory. The apparel hanger 12 is fabricated in whole or in part from materials, objects, or apparatus associated with a recreational activity, sport, or hobby. The material used to fabricate the apparel hanger 12 may be a portion of an authentic sporting good or a suitably sized facsimile of a sporting good. For example, in one embodiment detailed below and shown in the FIG. 1, the apparel hanger 12 is fabricated from materials associated with bicycling. A sport apparel marketing apparatus 10 which includes an apparel hanger 12 fabricated from bicycle components can be effectively used to display and market bicycle clothing, providing commercial advantages to a seller of bicycle clothing and accessories.

Similarly, an apparel hanger 12 may be fabricated from golf equipment for use in the marketing display and sales of golf clothing and accessories. An apparel hanger 12 may be fabricated from ski equipment for use in the marketing, display, and sale of ski clothing and accessories. Other embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in sport apparel marketing. Several particular sport related embodiments are described below, however, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Thus, an aspect of the present invention is a sport apparel marketing apparatus 10 featuring the use of non-traditional hanger materials associated with a particular sport, activity or hobby to hang, display, market and sell articles of clothing or accessories associated with the sport, activity or hobby.

FIG. 1 shows an apparatus for the marketing of sport apparel 10 including an apparel hanger 12 for an article of clothing or an accessory. As discussed in detail below, the apparel hanger 12 shown in FIGS. 1-9 is particularly useful for the display and marketing of bicycling related clothing and products. The apparel hanger 12 includes a primary support member 14 upon which clothing or accessories, collectively referred to herein as “apparel”, may be hung and displayed. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-9, the primary support member 14 is an arcuate segment of bicycle rim 14a. The apparel hanger 12 further includes a hook 18 attached to the arcuate segment 14a. The hook 18 of FIGS. 1-9 may be fabricated from a bicycle spoke and, as is shown in these figures, is a spoke hook 18a. The spoke hook 18a may be attached to the arcuate segment 14a by means of a bicycle spoke nipple 20. Alternatively, the hook 18a may be attached to the arcuate segment 14a by a rivet, bolt, permanent bond such as glue or a welded joint, or other attachment means.

In any embodiment of the present invention, at least one component of the sport apparel marketing apparatus 10 will be a portion of a sporting good from a sport associated with the sport apparel which is being marketed. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-9, both the hook 18a and the primary support member 14a are fabricated from portions of sporting goods, namely a segment of bicycle rim and a bicycle spoke. It is important to note, however, that the present invention is not limited to embodiments where both major components of an apparel hanger 12 are fabricated from a portion of a sporting good. It is also important to note that the sporting good employed in the apparel hanger 12 may be authentic or a suitably sized facsimile.

Another embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 2, includes a cross member 22. The cross member 22 may be fabricated from a second portion of bicycle rim 22a as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. Alternatively, the cross member 22 may be fabricated from other materials. Typically, the cross member 22 may be attached to the primary support member 14 at the ends of the primary support member 14. For example, the bicycle rim cross member 22a may attach to the arcuate segment 14a at first and second points 24, 26 on the arc, which will typically be located at or near the arc's endpoints. Thus, the cross member 22 forms an additional clothing or accessory supporting surface as is typical with hangers. The cross member 22 may include an elastic member 28 spanning a portion of its length. The elastic member 28 is depicted as a bungee cord in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The elastic member 28 may be used to secure an article of clothing 29 or an accessory to the cross member 22 by clamping the clothing into the channel of a cross member 22a fabricated from a bicycle rim, as depicted in FIG. 3.

The cross member 22 may be fabricated from a material typically associated with bicycles such as the rim portion 22a of FIGS. 2-3. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, the cross member 22 may be fabricated from long bicycle spokes 22b. As shown in FIG. 5, simple loops may be formed in the bicycle spokes 22b to facilitate attachment of a spoke cross member 22b to the arcuate segment 14a and to facilitate the hanging of clothing or accessories. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, a cross member 22 may be formed of coiled bicycle spokes 22c stretched between the attachment points 24, 26 on the arcuate segment 14a in a spring fashion.

FIGS. 7-9 depict embodiments of a sport apparel marketing apparatus 10 featuring an apparel hanger 12 where the cross member 22 is fabricated from a steel bar 22d. A spring clamp 30 may be attached to the bar 22d to facilitate the clamping of clothing to the cross member 22d. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8, multiple clamps 30a, 30b, 30c . . . 30n may be spaced along the bar 22d for clamping clothing or small accessories. The clamps 30b, 30b, 30c . . . 30n may be recycled paper or clipboard clamps to further promote a theme of the apparel hanger 12 utilizing commonly recognizable parts. FIG. 9 depicts an embodiment of an apparel hanger 12 where the clamps 30a, 30b, 30c . . . 30n are fabricated from one or more magnets which may be attached to the arcuate segment 14a by strings 32, wire cables or similar materials.

FIGS. 10-14 further illustrate embodiments of the sport apparel marketing apparatus 10 suitable for marketing bicycling related apparel. FIGS. 10-14 show various configurations of the hook 18 which is attached to the primary support member 14 to form an apparel hanger 12. As mentioned above, the hook 18 may, in certain embodiments, be a spoke hook 18a fabricated from a recycled or new bicycle spoke; the hook 18a may be formed for easy hanging on a typical clothing hanger rod, as shown in FIG. 10. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 11, the hook 18a could be formed as a captive member which is slidably, but not removably, attached to a display rod to assure that a given apparel hanger 12 remains attached to a given display and is not removed by a customer. A spoke hook 18a can also be configured to attach to a slat or grid display wall as is shown in FIG. 12. As shown on FIG. 13, sport apparel marketing apparatus 10 may feature a label 32 showing sizing or other information which can be attached to the apparel hanger 12 at the hook 18a. Alternatively, the hook 18a may be configured to hold a series of primary support structures 14 in a vertical display as shown in FIG. 14.

The sport apparel marketing apparatus 10 may include components in addition to the apparel hanger 12 as described above, for example, the label 32 of FIG. 14. In addition, other marketing information concerning the sport related apparel or products may be included in a display area 34 as shown in FIG. 15.

The embodiments of the sport apparel marketing apparatus 10 described above may include apparel hangers 12 sized to support, display, and market any size of shirts, jackets, pants, accessories, or other apparel. The present invention is not limited to an apparatus for marketing any particular size of apparel; for example, the apparel hanger 12 of a sport apparel marketing apparatus 10 may be appropriately sized for children's clothes, socks, gloves, or other relatively small items.

The sport apparel marketing apparatus 10 can, in alternative embodiments, be manufactured from apparatus associated with any sport, hobby, or activity, thus the present invention is suitable for marketing various types of apparel. For example, FIG. 16 illustrates a sport apparel marketing apparatus 10 including an apparel hanger 12 featuring a primary support member 14 fabricated from a real or facsimile baseball or softball bat 14b. Similarly, FIG. 17 shows a sport apparel marketing apparatus 10 including an apparel hanger 12 fabricated from a real or facsimile golf club. In this embodiment, each of the hook 18b, primary support member 14c, and cross member 22e can be fabricated from a single golf club.

FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrate two possible configurations of sport apparel marketing apparatus 10 suitable for marketing ski apparel. In the FIG. 18 embodiment, the primary support member 14d includes a flexed portion of a downhill snow ski, and the cross member 22f is fabricated from a portion of a ski pole. In addition, the hook 18c may be fabricated from a curved and molded portion cut or removed from the center of a ski. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 19, the primary support member 14 may be a section of un-flexed ski 14e.

As is shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B, multiple apparel hangers 12 suitable for the marketing of snowboarding related apparel may be fabricated from a single snowboard featuring a hook 18d, primary support member 14f, and a cross member 22g fashioned from the snowboard body 36. Similarly, as is shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, sport apparel marketing apparatus 10 including an apparel hanger 12 may be fabricated from sporting goods commonly associated with fishing or archery.

FIGS. 21A-D illustrate four alternative embodiments where an apparel hanger 12 may feature a primary support member 14 which is a segment of fishing rod 14g. The hook 18 of an apparel hanger 12 with utility for marketing fishing apparel may be fabricated from an oversized facsimile fish hook 18e or a rod portion 18f. Similarly, the cross member 22 may be manufactured from a rod portion 22h or a length of fishing line 22i.

The sport apparel marketing apparatus 10 suitable for marketing archery related apparel, shown in FIG. 22, features a primary support member 14h fashioned from a suitably sized bow facsimile, a hook 18g fashioned from a suitably sized arrow facsimile, and a bowstring cross member 22j.

Although described above and shown in the accompanying figures with respect to certain specific sports, the present invention is not limited to an apparatus for marketing apparel associated with only the sports illustrated. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention may be implemented with respect to the marketing of apparel associated with any sport, pastime, or hobby.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method of marketing an item of sport apparel. The method includes providing one or more apparel hangers 12, including at least one portion of a sporting good from a sport associated with the sport apparel displayed for sale. The method further includes displaying an item of sport apparel on the appropriate apparel hanger 12 at a location visible to potential purchasers of the sport apparel, such as a retail sales location.

Another embodiment of the present invention includes a method of manufacturing a sport apparel marketing apparatus 10 which includes providing a hook 18 and a primary support member 14, wherein at least one of the hook 18 and primary support member 14 is a portion of a sporting good. The method further includes fixing, attaching, or otherwise operatively associating the hook 18 with the primary support member 14 to form an apparel hanger 12. The method of manufacturing a sport apparel marketing apparatus 10 may include providing a cross member 22 and operatively associating the cross member 22 with the primary support member 14 to form an apparel hanger 12 suitable for holding more than one item of apparel.

Each of the embodiments of the sport apparel marketing apparatus 10 illustrated and described above includes an apparel hanger 12 constructed in whole or in part from a portion of a sporting good associated with the sport apparel. The use of this non-traditional material for hanger construction results in several marketing advantages to a sport or hobby clothing and accessory retailer. Customers at sport apparel shops will be intrigued by the non-traditional hanger material, and thus attracted to the products displayed thereon. In addition, hangers constructed from rim segments, spokes, skis, bows, bats, golf clubs, fishing equipment, and other real or facsimile sport related materials will enhance the theme and decor presented in a sport apparel shop.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a number of embodiments, it would be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in the form and details may be made to the various embodiments disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and that the various embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to act as limitations on the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A sport apparel marketing apparatus comprising an apparel hanger having a hook and a primary support member wherein at least one of the hook and the primary support member is a portion of a sporting good from a sport associated with the sport apparel.

2. The sport apparel marketing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a cross member wherein at least one of the hook, the primary support member and the cross member is a portion of a sporting good from a sport associated with the sport apparel.

3. The sport apparel marketing apparatus of claim 2 wherein the cross member further comprises one or more clamps.

4. The sport apparel marketing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the primary support member is selected from a group consisting of an arcuate segment of a bicycle rim, a segment of a fishing rod; a portion of a bow; a portion of a ski, a portion of a golf club, a portion of a bat, and a portion of a snowboard.

5. The sport apparel marketing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hook is selected from a group consisting of a portion of a wheel spoke, a fishing hook, a portion of a golf club, a portion of a ski, a portion of an arrow and a portion of a snowboard.

6. The sport apparel marketing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cross member is selected from a group consisting of a golf club shaft, a segment of a fishing rod, a ski pole, a portion of a snowboard and a bicycle spoke.

7. A method of marketing an item of sport apparel comprising: providing an apparel hanger having a hook and a primary support member wherein at least one of the hook and the primary support member is a portion of a sporting good from a sport associated with the sport apparel; displaying an item of sport apparel on the apparel hanger at a location visible to potential purchasers of the sport apparel.

8. The method of marketing an item of sport apparel of claim 7 further comprising providing the apparel hanger with a cross member wherein at least one of the hook, the primary support member and the cross member is a portion of a sporting good from a sport associated with the sport apparel.

9. The method of marketing an item of sport apparel of claim 8 further comprising providing the cross member with one or more clamps.

10. The method of marketing an item of sport apparel of claim 7 wherein the primary support member is selected from a group consisting of an arcuate segment of a bicycle rim, a segment of a fishing rod; a portion of a bow; a portion of a ski, a portion of a golf club, a portion of a bat, and a portion of a snowboard.

11. The method of marketing an item of sport apparel of claim 7 wherein the hook is selected from a group consisting of a portion of a wheel spoke, a fishing hook, a portion of a golf club, a portion of a ski, a portion of an arrow and a portion of a snowboard.

12. The method of marketing an item of sport apparel of claim 7 wherein the cross member is selected from a group consisting of a golf club shaft, a segment of a fishing rod, a ski pole, a portion of a snowboard and a bicycle spoke.

13. A method of manufacturing a sport apparel marketing apparatus comprising: providing a hook; providing a primary support member, wherein at least one of the hook and the primary support member is a portion of a sporting good; operatively associating the hook with the primary support member to form an apparel hanger.

14. The method of manufacturing a sport apparel marketing apparatus of claim 13 further comprising providing a cross member wherein at least one of the hook, the primary support member and the cross member is a portion of a sporting good from a sport associated with the sport apparel; and operatively associating the cross member with the primary support member to form an apparel hanger.

15. The method of manufacturing a sport apparel marketing apparatus of claim 14 further comprising operatively associating one or more clamps with the cross member.

16. The method of manufacturing a sport apparel marketing apparatus of claim 13 wherein the primary support member is selected from a group consisting of an arcuate segment of a bicycle rim, a segment of a fishing rod; a portion of a bow; a portion of a ski, a portion of a golf club, a portion of a bat, and a portion of a snowboard.

17. The method of manufacturing a sport apparel marketing apparatus of claim 13 wherein the hook is selected from a group consisting of a portion of a wheel spoke, a fishing hook, a portion of a golf club, a portion of a ski, a portion of an arrow and a portion of a snowboard.

18. The method of manufacturing a sport apparel marketing apparatus of claim 13 wherein the cross member is selected from a group consisting of a golf club shaft, a segment of a fishing rod, a ski pole, a portion of a snowboard and a bicycle spoke.