A HANGER FOR AN ARTICLE

A HANGER FOR AN ARTICLE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hanger for an article.

Background of the Invention

When an article, such as a clothing accessory, is offered for sale in a shop, it is often hung on a rod or hook by a hanger. A variety of hangers are known in the prior art and they typically comprise a portion that is arranged to permit hanging of the hanger on the rod or hook and a portion that is arranged to hold the clothing accessory. For example, the portion that is arranged to hold the clothing accessory may comprise an elongate member having at one end a finger to prevent accidental disengagement of the clothing accessory from the holder. However, the finger also makes it time-consuming to attach the clothing accessory to the hanger as it prevents the clothing accessory from sliding onto the member in an easy manner .

All hangers known in the prior art are shaped such that it is either relatively complicated to attach the article to the hanger or it is relatively easy to accidentally disengage the article from the hanger.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a hanger for an article, the hanger comprising: • a holder adapted to hold the article,

• a cover for covering a portion of the article and being predominantly constructed of a rigid material, the cover having at least two cover elements which are hingedly connected, the cover elements being movable between an open position and an operative position, the holder being connected to, or integrally formed with, one of the cover elements and disposed inwardly from that cover element such that, in the operative position, the holder is positioned between the cover elements and, in use, likelihood of dislodgment of the article from the holder is reduced and

• a supporting means connected to the cover or to the holder to permit hanging of the hanger.

As the cover elements are movable into the open position, it is relatively easy to attach the clothing accessory to the holder which may be provided in form of a simple straight member. In the operative position the cover elements reduce the likelihood of dislodgment.

The likelihood of dislodgment may be or may not be reduced by clamping the article between the at least two cover elements or between at least one of the cover elements and the holder. The present invention also provides a process of producing a hanger for an article, comprising the steps of:

• providing a mould for forming the hanger from a plastics material, • positioning a label within or adjacent to the mould so that, when the hanger is moulded, the plastics material contacts and adheres to the label and

• moulding a plastics material within the mould to form the hanger and to in-mould-label the label onto the hanger. The above-defined process has the advantage that moulding the hanger and labelling are combined into one step which reduces production costs.

The present invention further provides a hanger produced by the above-defined process.

Preferred Features of the Invention

The hanger preferably is predominantly constructed of a plastics material and preferably comprises a label . The label preferably is integrated with the hanger and most preferably is an in-mould labelled label .

The hanger preferably comprises two cover elements which are hingedly connected. One of the cover elements preferably comprises a window. The window preferably is positioned so that in use, when the hanger is in the operative position, the article is positioned between the window of the one cover element and the other cover element .

The holder preferably is disposed inwardly from the window of the one cover portion. The holder most preferably comprises a straight portion that is disposed inwardly from the one cover element and across the window. The cover elements may further comprise a snap-fit lock arrangement operative to lock the cover elements together in the operative position.

The cover preferably comprises substantially flat major surface arranged for labelling or for attaching bar codes .

The support means preferably comprises a hook and preferably is connected to the cover.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings . Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a perspective representation of a hanger for an article according to an embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 2 shows another perspective representation of the hanger for an article and

Figure 3 shows a further perspective representation of the hanger for an article.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 , a preferred embodiment of the present invention is now described. Figure 1 shows a hanger 10 comprising a cover 11 which is illustrated in an open condition. The cover comprises a first cover element 12 and second cover element 14 which are hingedly connected. The second cover element 14 comprises a rim 15. The first cover element 12 comprises an edge 16 that is shaped to receive the rim 15 when the first cover element 12 and the second cover element 14 are arranged in an operative position to cover a portion of an article. The rim 15 and the edge 16 form a snap-fit lock arrangement.

The first cover element comprises a holder 18 for holding the article. The holder 18 is disposed inwardly from the first cover element 12 such that, when the hanger 10 is in the operative position, the holder 18 is positioned between the cover elements 12 and 14.

In this embodiment, the holder 18 comprises a straight member and is positioned over a window opening 17 in the first portion 12. A supporting means in the form of a hook 20 is connected to the first cover element 12.

Figure 2 shows another perspective view of the hanger 10 and illustrates the cover 11 in an open condition with an article in the form of a clothing accessory, in this example a tie 30, held by the holder 18.

Figure 3 shows a further perspective view of the hanger 10 and illustrates the hanger in the operative condition. In this case, the cover 11 is closed and the cover portions 12 and 14 are engaged. The tie 30 held by the holder 18 between the cover elements 12 and 14.

In this embodiment, the hanger 10 is composed of a recyclable plastics material and the outer face of the second cover element 14 comprises a label 22. In this case the hanger is produced by injecting molten plastics material into a mould and the label is attached to one side of the mould. When the plastics material hardens, the label adheres to the plastics material and forms an integral part of the hanger.

Although the invention has been described with reference to particular examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms. For example, the holder may not be connected to the cover, but may be a separate part that may be connected to the hook.