Garment Package

Abstract

A garment package includes a box having overlapping top walls which are notched to form a slit in the top of the box. The slit receives the upper end portion of a hanger, the clothes hanging portion of which is disposed within the interior of the box. The end portion of the hanger is provided with an elongated finger aperture located exteriorly of the box so that the end portion forms a handle for the entire garment package. The end portion also has laterally projecting protuberances which project beyond the margins of the aperture and prevent the handle portion from falling completely through the aperture. An open-ended hook is pivotally connected to the handle portion.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to packaging and more particularly to packaging for clothing.

Suits, coats, slacks, dresses and other relatively expensive articles of apparel are normally transferred by retail clothing establishments to their customers in shallow cardboard boxes. These boxes are rather fragile and therefore cannot be stacked one on top of another to any appreciable height without having the lower boxes collapse, causing the clothing in them to wrinkle under the weight of the upper boxes. Consequently, purchased clothing is normally stored on hangers in the stores until it is either picked up by the purchaser or scheduled for delivery.

Inasmuch as the boxes pack the clothing rather loosely, the boxes cannot be stored or carried in a vertical position without having the clothing slip to the bottom and acquire wrinkles.

Furthermore, since clothing boxes are relatively large in size, many people tend to grasp them about one end, but this practice often results in the collapse of such boxes at the areas where they are grasped, making them all the more difficult to carry. On the other hand, some stores tie clothing boxes with string to maintain them closed and to facilitate carrying, but the weight of the clothing filled box suspended from string about one's finger can become quite uncomfortable. Moreover, strings are a nuisance for the store employees who do the packaging and in addition require considerable time to apply properly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a garment package which can be conveniently carried without causing the clothing in it to acquire wrinkles. Another object is to provide a garment package which can be carried and stored in a vertical position without wrinkling the clothing. A further object is to provide a garment package which enables the garments to be suspended from a clothes rod while the clothing is still contained within the package. An additional object is to provide a garment package which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture. These and other objects and advantages will become apparent hereinafter.

The present invention is embodied in a garment package including a box having an opening in one wall thereof. A clothes hanger fits for the most part within the box, but has an end portion which projects through the opening. A hook is connected to the end portion. the invention also consists in the parts and in the arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification and wherein like numerals refer to like parts wherever they occur:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clothing package constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the box of the clothing package opened for the placement of clothing therein;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a hanger forming part of the present invention and showing the hook on the hanger extended;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the end portion of a modified hanger; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now in detail to the drawings, 2 designates a clothing or garment package including a box 4 and a hanger 6, the latter of which is configured to hold clothing either inside or outside the box 4. The hanger 6 moreover is adapted to project partially through the top of the box 4 to afford a convenient means for carrying the package 2. Throughout this disclosure the terms side, top, bottom, end, and the like have reference to the package 2 as it is normally carried by an individual or suspended from a clothes rod or similar device.

The box 4 is preferably blanked from cardboard of the type usually used in clothing boxes, and includes (FIG. 2) a pair of relatively large rectangular side walls 8 and 10 which are connected at their bottom margins to a bottom connecting wall 12 along score or fold lines 14. At their ends each of the side walls 8 and 10 have pairs of end walls 16 and 17, respectively, projecting perpendicularly from them along score lines 18. The transverse dimensions of the end walls 16 and 17 are equal and that dimension equals the transverse dimension of the connecting wall 12. The end walls 17 projecting from the side wall 10 are further joined at their lower ends to closure flaps 20 along score lines 22, and those flaps 20 turn inwardly to close the ends of the bottom connecting wall 12 when the box 4 is closed.

At its upper margin the side wall 8 has a top wall 24 projecting from it along a score line 26, and that top wall 24 has connecting tabs 28 which turn inwardly and lie along the inwardly presented face of the adjacent end walls 16. The tabs 28 are attached to the end walls 16 preferably by a pressure sensitive adhesive. Likewise, the side wall 10 is joined to a top wall 30 along a score line 32, and that top wall 30 is similarly provided with connecting tabs 34 which turn inwardly and are secured to the inwardly presented surfaces of the adjacent end walls 17, preferably by a pressure sensitive adhesive. Both of the top walls 24 and 30 are equal in width to the end walls 16 and 17 and to the connecting wall 12. It is desirable to initially apply the pressure sensitive adhesive to both the tabs 28 and 34 and to the end walls 16 and 17 along the areas thereof which normally abut, but to nevertheless leave them detached so that the box 4 can be shipped and stored in a knocked-down condition.

To erect the box 4, that is to place it in condition for reception of clothing, the end walls 16 and top wall 24 are bent perpendicular to the side wall 8 and the adhesive covered surfaces on the connecting tabs 28 are pressed against the juxtaposed adhesive covered surfaces on the end wall 16. This contact causes the tabs 28 to adhere to the walls 16 and maintain the walls 16 and 24 in an upstanding position. Likewise the top wall 30 and end walls 17 are folded perpendicularly to the side wall 10 and the adhesive covered surface on the tabs 34 are pressed against the adhesive covered surfaces on the end walls 17.

To close the box 4 the side walls 8 and 10 are folded toward each other (FIG. 2) along the score lines 14, and as they come together the end walls 17 are guided inside the end walls 16. Similarly during the final increment of closure, the top wall 30 is guided inside the top wall 24, and when the box 4 is completely closed (FIG. 1) the free margins of the end walls 17 and the top wall 30 will abut against the inwardly presented surface of the side wall 8. Thus, in the closed condition the side walls 16 overlie or are presented outwardly from the side walls 17 and likewise the top wall 24 overlies the top wall 30 to form a common top wall of double thickness on the box 4.

The top walls 24 and 30 are each provided with rectangular notches or cutouts 40 (FIG. 2) which extend outwardly to the free longitudinal margins thereof. The cutouts 40 moreover extend into their respective top walls 24 and 30 a distance slightly greater than half the width of the top walls 24 and 30. When the box 4 is closed the end margins of the rectangular cutouts 40 marginally register, and each cutout 40 is blocked by the portion of the top wall 24 or 30 located beyond the opposite cutout 40. However, since the depth of each cutout 40 is greater than half the width of the wall 24 or 30 in which it is located, a centrally disposed slit 42 is left in the overlapping walls 24 and 30, and the opposed side margins of that slit 42 are of course the longitudinally extending margins of the cutouts 40.

On each side of its cutout 40 the top wall 30 is cut away from its score line 32 to form a pair of locking tabs 44, each of which has a pair of laterally projecting ears 46. When the top wall 30 is guided inwardly of the top wall 24 as the box 4 is closed the locking tabs 44 are folded outwardly along the score line 26 so that they extend across the outwardly presented surface of the top wall 24. The tabs 44 are thereafter folded against the top wall 24, and the ears 46 thereon overlie transversely extending cutouts or slits 48 (FIG. 2) arranged in pairs in the top wall 24. The spacing between the slits 48 of each pair is less than the width of the overlying locking tab 44 measured across the ears 46. To maintain the box 4 closed each pair of ears 46 is squeezed together toward the top wall 24 until the spacing between their ends is slightly less than the spacing between the slits 48 of the underlying pair. Thereupon the ears 46 are inserted into the slits 48 and allowed to spread outwardly behind the top wall 24. Thus, the ears 46 remain engaged with the slits 48 and, acting through the main body of each tab 44, prevent the side walls 8 and 10 or, more correctly, the two halves of the box 4 from separating.

The hanger 6 includes (FIG. 3) a pair of downwardly diverging arms 60 which are connected across their lower ends by a cross piece 62 to form a clothes retaining portion. At their upper ends the arms 60 merge into an end portion 64, the length of which is slightly less than the length of the slit 42 in the closed box 4. The end portion 64 beyond the terminal ends of the diverging aims 60 is provided with an elongated finger aperture 66 which is sized to accommodate the fingers on the user's hand. Thus, the outer or upper end of the end portion 64 forms a carrying handle so that the end portion 64 may be considered a handle portion. Centrally above the finger aperture 66 the end portion 64 has an open ended hook 68 pivotally connected to it by means of a rivet 70 which enables the hook 68 to swing from an upstanding extended position to a folded or retracted position. In the extended position the hook 68 projects beyond the upper edge of the end portion 64 and may be engaged with a clothes rod so that the hanger 6 may be suspended therefrom. In the retracted or folded position the hook 68 lies along side of the end portion 64, allowing the user to insert his fingers through the finger aperture 66 and conveniently carry the hanger 6 and anything supported by it. Indeed, when the hook 68 is folded it closely follows the curvature of the main body of the end portion 64 around the finger aperture 66, and it neither obstructs the finger aperture 66 nor does it project outwardly beyond the outer edge of the end portion 64.

The hanger 6 may be stamped from paperboard stock having sufficient thickness and strength to support clothing when such clothing is placed on the hanger 6 in the conventional manner. Should the hanger 6 be formed from paperboard it should have within its end portion 64 immediately beneath the aperture 66 a pair of securing tabs 72 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which fold outwardly along score lines 74 and increase the thickness of the end portion 64. With the tabs 72 folded inwardly the thickness of the end portion 64, which in that case equals the thickness of the paperboard, should not be greater than the width of the slit 42 in the closed box 4. However, when the securing tabs 72 are folded outwardly the thickness of the end portion 64 at that location should be greater than the width of the slit 42 (FIG. 4).

The hanger 6 may also be molded from plastic (FIGS. 5 and 6), in which case securing ribs 76 are formed integral to the handle portion 64 immediately below the finger aperture 66. The ribs 76 increase the thickness of the end portion 64 immediately below the aperture 66 to a dimension greater than the width of the slit 42. However, immediately below the ribs 76, the thickness of the end portion 64 is less than the width of the slit 42.

In use, articles of clothing are placed on the hanger 6 in the conventional manner. For example, in the case of a man's suit the trousers are draped over the cross piece 62, while the shoulders of the coat are fitted over the diverging arms 60. Whatever the nature of the article of clothing the handle portion 64 will project upwardly beyond it. By extending the hook 68 and then looping it over a clothes rod the clothing on the hanger 6 may be suspended from the clothes rod in the usual manner, in which case it will surely remain free of wrinkles.

Once the clothing is on the hanger 6 it may easily be packaged in the box 4 so as to form the convenient carrying package 2. In particular, if the box 4 is usually supplied in broken down form, that is as a blank, then the end walls 16 and 17 are folded perpendicularly to their respective side walls 8 and 10. Next the top walls 24 and 30 are also folded perpendicularly to their side walls 8 and 10, and the connecting tabs 28 and 34 thereon are furthermore pressed against the inwardly presented and adhesively treated surfaces at the ends of the adjacent end walls 16 and 17, so that adhesive bonds are formed which hold the end walls 16 and 17 and the top walls 24 and 30 in an upright position. Of course, the box 4 may be supplied in the foregoing erected position or even in a closed position. Similarly other means such as staples or interlocking tabs may be employed to hold the walls 16, 17, 24, and 30 in an upright position.

In any event, the clothing on the hanger 6 is laid along the side wall 10 such that the end portion 64 of the hanger 6 projects through the cutout 40 in the top wall 30. Indeed, the end portion 64 must extend sufficiently through the cutout 40 in the top wall 30 to expose the entire finger aperture 66, and in addition have either the securing tabs 72 or the securing ribs 76 also located beyond the top wall 30, depending on whether the hanger is stamped from paperboard stock or molded from plastic. Thereafter, the clothing is folded back upon itself until it is located entirely beyond the score line 14 located between the side wall 10 and the bottom connecting wall 12.

Next the closure flaps 20 are folded inwardly and the side wall 8 is brought toward the side wall 10, in which case the cardboard material will fold along the score lines 14 and the connecting wall 12 will tend to assume an upright position. As the side wall 8 is brought toward the clothing and the side wall 10, the end walls 17 are tucked within the end walls 16, and likewise during the final increment of closure the top wall 30 is guided inside the top wall 24. The locking tabs 44 on the top wall 30, however, are allowed to extend outwardly so that they are not covered by the top wall 24. Also during this final increment of closure, the side margins for the cutout 40 in the top wall 24 are guided around the outwardly projecting end portions 64 of the hanger 6, and care is taken to insure that the portion of the top wall 24 located beyond the cutout 40 therein fits behind the securing tab 72 or securing ribs 76 on the handle portion 64, whatever the case may be. At this point during the assembly the end portion 64 becomes captured within the overlying top walls 24 and 30. The end portion 64 cannot be withdrawn outwardly due to the spread of the arms 60 immediately behind it, and similarly cannot fall or be pushed into the interior of the box 4 by reason of the lateral projection of the securing tabs 72 or ribs 76 over the top walls 24 and 30. Thus, the hanger 6 is secured in the upper end of the box 4 or conversely the box 4 is held about the hanger 6.

Finally, the ears 46 on the locking tabs 44 are inserted into the underlying slits 48 in the top wall 24 and then allowed to spread outwardly behind the top wall 24. This as previously noted locks the top walls 24 and 30 together and prevents the box 4 from opening.

The customer who receives the package 2 carries it by grasping the end portion 64 which projects outwardly from the box 4. In particular, with the hook 68 folded inwardly, he merely inserts his fingers through the finger aperture 66 and carries the package as any other valise having a handle. When the package 2 is carried in this manner the clothing is suspended for the most part from the diverging arms 60 and in the case of trousers from the cross piece 62 also. The clothing therefore does not fall downwardly to the bottom connecting wall 12 as is the case with conventional clothing boxes. Indeed, when the package 2 is carried in the foregoing manner the box 4 is suspended from the hanger 6 and generally speaking merely forms a protective envelope around the clothing. It does not support the main bulk of the clothing since that function is assumed by the hanger 6, but it may support the folded back portion of the clothing if such a portion exists. The folded back portion however is usually light and remains in place with the box 4.

Instead of carrying the package 2, it may be suspended from a clothes rod by swinging the hook 68 to its upstanding position and engaging it with a clothes rod or similar device for retaining clothes hangers. Thus, retail clothing establishments can box their clothing well in advance of the time scheduled for delivery or pick up by the customer, without concern for excessive wrinkling.

This invention is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A clothing package comprising: a box which is capable of being opened to place clothing therein and when closed has a wall provided with an opening leading into the interior thereof; and a clothes hanger including an elongated clothes holding portion configured such that clothing may be suspended therefrom and sized to fit within the box, a handle portion projecting from generally the center of the clothes holding portion and sized to fit through the opening in the box wall with a substantial part thereof being disposed outwardly from the box, the handle portion having a finger opening therein sized to receive at least some of the fingers of the user's hand and located outwardly from the box when the handle portion is projected through the wall opening in the closed box, and a hook connected to the handle portion at a pivot axis fixed relative thereto and extending crosswise with respect to the hanger, the hook being capable of swinging between an extended position, wherein it projects outwardly beyond the handle portion and away from the box for engagement with a supporting device, and a retracted position, wherein it is disposed along the handle without projecting substantially outwardly therefrom and without substantially obscuring the finger opening so that the handle portion may be easily and comfortably gripped for carrying the package.

2. A clothing package according to claim 1 wherein the box includes a pair of side walls and a top wall connected to each side wall; wherein when the box is closed the side walls are spaced from one another and one top wall overlies the other top wall to form a common wall at the top of the box; wherein each top wall has a notch which opens outwardly at a free margin of that top wall; and wherein the notches align when the side walls are brought toward one another upon closure of the box and possess sufficient depth to prevent the complete overlap of the notch in each top wall by the opposite top wall, whereby the wall opening is formed in the common wall at the top of the box.

3. A clothing package according to claim 2 wherein the opening formed by the cutouts is a slit; and wherein the hanger includes securing means for precluding movement of the handle portion thereof through the slit when the box is closed.

4. A clothing package according to claim 3 wherein the securing means comprises protuberances projecting laterally from the handle portion beyond the margins of the slit and located externally of the box.

5. A clothing package according to claim 1 wherein the hook is configured to extend generally around one end of the finger opening when in its retracted position so as not to obstruct the finger opening.

6. A clothing package according to claim 5 wherein the finger opening is elongated with its major dimension generally paralleling the major dimension of the elongated clothes holding portion.

7. A clothing package according to claim 1 wherein the handle portion has protuberances projecting transversely therefrom beyond the margins of the wall opening and on the outwardly presented side of the wall to prevent the hanger from falling into the box.

8. A clothing package according to claim 7 wherein the handle portion and clothes holding portion are integral and are molded from plastic.

9. A clothing hanger comprising: an elongated clothes holding portion configured such that clothing may be suspended therefrom; a reduced handle portion projecting from generally the center of clothes holding portion and having a finger opening therein which extends generally in the same direction as the elongated clothes holding portion; and a hook connected to the handle portion at a pivot axis which extends crosswise of the handle, the hook being capable of swinging between an extended position, wherein it projects outwardly beyond the handle portion for engagement with a hanger supporting device, and a retracted position, wherein it is disposed along the handle without projecting substantially outwardly therefrom and without substantially obstructing the finger opening so that the handle portion may easily and comfortably be gripped.

10. A hanger according to claim 9 wherein the hook is configured to extend generally around one end of the finger opening when in its retracted position.