Hook-on device for hanging shoes, for example on a display fixture

The present invention relates to a hook-on device for hanging shoes, in particular slippers, on a display fixture for example, to which the following description refers purely by way of example.

As is known, to display shoes at sales outlets, fairs, or similar, hook-on hangers are widely used for hanging shoes in pairs on a supporting structure, such as a display rack.

Known hangers are substantially defined by a central upright having a hook-shaped top end portion, and by two substantially vertical lateral branches joined at the bottom to opposite sides of the upright and each insertable inside a respective shoe to support it in a vertical position.

Though relatively cheap and practical, hangers of the above type have the drawback of having to be detached completely from the shoes to try the shoes on. Consequently, when several pairs of the same type of shoe are tried on and detached simultaneously from the hangers, the shoes must first be formed back into pairs before being replaced on the display fixture.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hook-on shoe hanger designed to provide a straightforward, low-cost solution to the aforementioned drawback typically associated with known hangers.

According to the present invention, there is provided a hook-on device for hanging shoes, for example on a display fixture, and comprising a central upright having a hook-shaped top end portion; and two branches located on opposite sides of said upright, having respective portions joined to opposite sides of the upright, and each insertable inside a respective shoe to support it in a vertical position; characterized in that said upright comprises at least one through opening, through which a fastening member is fitted to connect the device to said shoes.

A preferred, non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 shows a front view of a hook-on device for hanging shoes in accordance with the present invention;
• Figure 2 shows a side view of the Figure 1 device;
• Figure 3 shows a larger-scale section along line III-III in Figure 1;
• Figure 4 shows a larger-scale section along line IV-IV in Figure 1;
• Figure 5 shows a larger-scale section along line V-V in Figure 1;
• Figures 6 and 7 show the Figure 1 device and a pair of shoes connected to it in two different as-used configurations.

Number 1 in Figures 1, 2, 6 and 7 indicates as a whole a hook-on device for vertically hanging, e.g. on a display fixture (not shown), a pair of shoes 2 - in the example shown, a pair of slippers shown purely by way of example and each defined by a sole 3, and by a backless, open-toed vamp 4 defined by a transverse strip fixed at opposite lateral ends to lateral edges of sole 3.

Device 1 may obviously be used for any type of shoe, including closed-toed slippers.

Device 1 is preferably molded from plastic material, and comprises, integrally, a central upright 6 having a hook-shaped top end portion 7; and two substantially vertical branches 8 located on opposite sides of and substantially in the same plane as upright 6, having respective bottom ends 9 joined to opposite sides of a bottom end 10 of upright 6, and each insertable inside a respective shoe 2 to support it in a vertical position.

More specifically, upright 6 comprises a rectangular bar-shaped main portion 12, from which hook-shaped top end portion 7 originates integrally; and branches 8 are vertically shorter than main portion 12 of upright 6, and define, with upright 6, respective gaps 13 which are engaged by vamps 4 of a respective pair of shoes 2.

More specifically, each branch 8 comprises a main portion 14 extending parallel to main portion 12 of upright 6; and a top end portion 15 diverging from upright 6 to facilitate insertion of vamp 4 of a respective shoe 2 inside respective gap 13.

Branches 8 are joined at the bottom to upright 6 by a transverse bottom portion 16 bounding device 1 at the opposite end to hook-shaped end portion 7.

As shown clearly in Figures 1, 6 and 7, close to bottom portion 16, upright 6 and both branches 8 have facing rounded projections 17 for ensuring firm grip of vamps 4 of shoes 2 inside gaps 13.

Upright 6 and branches 8 advantageously have raised edges 18 projecting from both opposite faces to increase the transverse flexural strength of device 1.

The cross section of each branch 8 preferably decreases towards its free top end, so that, after molding, the larger quantity of material close to bottom portion 16 loads branch 8 elastically towards upright 6, thus increasing grip of vamp 4 of respective shoe 2.

An important characteristic of the present invention lies in main portion 12 of upright 6 comprising two side by side, vertically elongated through openings 19, through which is fitted a fastening member 20, e.g. a plastic wire, to connect device 1 to vamps 4 of shoes 2.

More specifically, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, fastening member 20 is inserted through the gaps between vamps 4 and soles 3 of both shoes 2, engages openings 19 in upright 6, and is fastened into a loop by known fastening means 21.

To try on shoes 2 fitted to device 1, branches 8 are simply detached from shoes 2, which still remain connected to device 1 by fastening member 20 (Figure 7).

By forming openings 19 along upright 6, shoes 2 can therefore be tried on without splitting the pair, by remaining connected to relative device 1.

Clearly, changes may be made to device 1 as described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope of the accompanying Claims.

In particular, upright 6 may comprise only one opening 19, and branches 8 may be joined to upright 6 by portions other than bottom ends 9.